Originally Posted by
Retired DC9 driver
I would later fly the 319/320/321 for quite a few years as Captain. Often fly it with AP/FD off, but the A/T is pretty useful ! Many approaches I did , required "A/P off, F/Ds off, Speed Push", then hand fly.
Some airlines do not allow to fly with the A/THR in Speed-mode while the A/P is not engaged. Lufthansa Passage / Cargo went this way. The training department had the opinion, that the use of A/T(HR) while handflying has a negative effect on (scanning-) skills. I tend to agree on that one.
We have a thread on that topic in tech log. However, I am not allowed to post links yet.