Frontlefthamster,
I don't agree with your post. While i have to agree that some 'zero to hero' cadets are not competent to hand-fly a transport aircraft. However i have also seen a lot of these guys/gals trying to get as much manual flying in as they can get. And everybody knows that practice makes perfect.
However the trend which has started a few years back is that a fair amount of captains deny their F/O's to handfly the aircraft. Even when the conditions are right. (not talking about inbound LHR with weather on CAT1 minima) They defend their decision by stating that the SOP's prefer an automated approach. However, the SOP's allow for manual flying (A/P, A/T, F/D off) when both pilots agree is safe to do.
I know that the skipper has the ultimate responsibility but if you start denying your F/O to hand-fly the aircraft you can't come on this website (or company's website) and claim that the low hours F/O's have no manual flying skills.
This raises the question, whats the reason that these skippers don't let their F/O's hand-fly the aircraft? Is it because they are themselves reluctant to hand-fly because their skill are not up to scratch?
Personally i do fly the aircraft manual whenever possible and do encourage the other side to do this also. In the end you have become a pilot to fly the aircraft and not to just sit and watch what the a/c is doing. (of course this depends on the situation)
CEJM