What an interesting thread...how depressing that so few pilots feel confident in their own or their F/Os ability to transition quickly to an efficient visual approach. I agree though that 'they' are training 'it' out of us.
I feel blessed that my first several jets were flown in environments that positively encouraged visual approaches and we were trained by management pilots who felt strongly that a well flown visual appraoch was a/. a thing of beauty b/. a big time saver and c/. often required 'cause the navaids were all broken
But now I find myself flying 767s and my company's attitude to visual approaches seems...well we have one in the training but I call it the 'visual non precision approach' because it bares little resemblance to a traditional visual approach. Many of you will have seen it..downwind at xxxx Vref 30+40/flap 5, abeam threshold timing blah blah.
I'll have to pick my mark but think I'll keep my hand in soon
Chuck.