F/D on or off, manual or F/D - it is ok with me subject of course to workload (and perceived ability), and visual approaches are encouraged where appropriate where they will 'facilitate' or improve skills.
It is, however, a good thread, and we have to look at where 'modern' a/c design is taking us. How long before the average C152 has GPS/RNAV etc? The path to the RHS of a jet then follows computer generated inputs from day 1. It is not unusual to see an F/O who cannot grasp the concept of finding one's way around on DR/VOR/DME, or even who is 'lost' without a map display with waypoints and track line - in other words, basic position skills are going. Time and time again in my airline career I have seen the seductive 'head down, sort out the FMC' style when what was needed was 'disconnect and point' - and been 'seduced' myself. Frightening to me, but with the advance of system reliability and automation, should we be looking at only flying automatics in simulator tests? I know not of airbus, but believe that the sim cycle is flown using the automatics? As said above, I have heard that BA are 'discouraging' the use of manual throttle on the AB, and I believe, 777.
Is system reliabilty at that point yet or do some airlines need to review policy?