Originally Posted by 8846
Slightly off topic but our instructors came up with the idea of 'rumours' and 'news', that is to say that whatever button is pressed on the flight mode panel (FMP) it must be confirmed by observation of the ACTUAL mode on the FMA.
At our airline we apply the same principle to switchlights and EICAS messages. An illuminated switchlight (CONT IGNIT, for instance) is a rumor, but a CONT IGNITION status message on the EICAS is the truth.