maxrpm:
No solo student pilot on a sunny autum day must ever let the airspeed surprise him/herself. The same is true for a Airliner Multicrew Cockpit with passengers on board in an IMC approach at night.
This is not an airplane, or airplane sytem issue. This is a training problem we are dealing with.
You'd think so. In a 757 simulator, engine out situation, autothrottles off per checklist. I'm running the checklist, partner is PF. We're given a descent of 1000'. Done in FLCH after setting in lower next altitude in the Mode Control Panel. Descent started, my head goes back into the checklist, PF levels off, forgets to add thrust on the good engine. Yes, until stick shaker gets both of our attentions, followed by a half snap roll upside down. My partner, believe it, wrestled with it and got it upright. Sim instructor freezes the sim and we debrief. Said he has seen this scenario many times with the usual result being a crash.
We didn't crash but it took some fancy stick and rudder work. PF, "You have to watch your speed. Autothrottle as crutches are no longer available". PM, me, scolded for not paying attention to what PF was doing, head in checklist, cheerfully along for the ride. PF was a highly experienced pilot and an instructor on another jet with the company. "To err is human". That's why we train so vigorously and are allowed to make mistakes so the only thing bruised is our ego.
777 allows Autothrottle (split switch for each engine) use with an engine out. Nice.