PJ2
A reply to your post above.
Only my 2p worth but here goes.
In trying to make the business safer (surely a laudable aim if there ever was one) the job has been de-skilled.
1.They try to think of a SOP for every eventuality. This leads the crews to believe that if they can only memorise all the stuff in that big book..........they will be ok.
2. They encourage to too great an extent, the use of the autos. While this is certainly quite useful it can lead to a 'detached' flight crew. Not quite in the loop, not quite out of it.
3. If all the above lets you down, crews are SO encouraged to take it around.......as if that's the answer to all your problems
4. Airmanship is rarely given proper emphasis. Why? Easy; It's too variable, too hard to teach and too hard to test.
So you get crews trying their best to tick all the boxes, not breach their extensive SOPs and who rarely hand fly.
Now. Having criticised that way of operating I will admit/ State that it must have saved a lot of tin.
It is however, kicking off a entirely new sort of problem: Pilots who think slavish adherance to SOP and use of autos will keep them safe.........and in the final analysis, if it's gone tits-up just do a G/A.
The 'real' problem tho, is where do we go from here? What is the way back? Do we put ever firmer regs and SOPS in place, to try and make it safer or try to foster that elusive quality that could save the day. 'airmanship'?
Sadly, my money is on the former...........but I rely on the latter!
Never forget, as someone above wrote........the B@stard thing is trying to kill you!
Keep your guard UP!