Originally Posted by
enzino
The monitored approach policy is the only reason that refrains me from applying to BA. Personally, I could never get used to it; I enjoy managing the descent from TOD all the way to landing and maybe followed by a nice decrab with the winds we have experienced in the last days.
The monitored approach has its place in a LVO environment, but is it really required on modern aircraft?
If I may offer a dissenting view, as someone who has (admittedly many years ago) flown the “conventional” way but who has had the bulk of my career flying the monitored approach… it is an absolutely fantastic tool, enhances SA and mental model sharing, forces an interactive briefing style between crew members, and, in my opinion, removes a great deal of ego in trying for a “perfect” CDA, as all I really care is that I’m handed a nice stable approach at 1000ft, I’d rather you’re conservative. It isn’t a policy that can’t be tweaked when necessary (visual approaches that have to be flown from one side, for example). BA has plenty of pilots who didn’t think they could get used to the monitored approach but who have come to at least respect the benefits it brings.
At the end of the day, as a Captain on a long haul aircraft, you’ll find that the actual flying, whilst satisfying, is a fairly small part of the big picture that you’re paid to manage.