Originally Posted by
Check Airman
A few years ago, someone made fun of me (in good nature) for the amount of raw data flying I did on departure and arrival. I told him I was trying to keep my skills sharp.
Not terribly long after that, I watched him struggle significantly when the automation failed him. There was nothing to laugh about that second time.
The issue is ATHR and flying without it is not much of an issue in airbus FBW which are flight path stable where pitch stays almost where it is irrespective what happens to thrust. In B737 which is speed stable and change in thrust or speed changes pitch(flight path) makes it more challenging . Also for this very reason in 737 it's mandatory to switch off ATHR if AP is off. Every manual landing in B737 is with ATHR off. So switching of ATHR is not an issue. It causes problem only if you loose the scan.