Lateonite: "PITCH & POWER". Now there's a blast from ther past, more's the pity. I fly with F/O's who can't fly visual approaches. They allow the A/P to be sued for radar intercepts and then disconnect at 1000' and steer the a/c towards the runway. They must have been able to fly visual circuits for base training, but that was month ago. Visual descending approaches on a severe clear day are not in their portfolio. Sadly, the company doesn't seem to propmote the idea, whereas 25 years ago in the Greek island charter days of needles & dials a/c it was the standard. And if you couldn't do it efficiently and safely you didn't get command.
This is not a "it weren't like that in my day" tirade, it is just a comment that when I see F/O's fly visual circuits on the autopilot I wonder where we are going with aviation. I know this topic has been discussed many times before, and I am not opening the debate again, but where will the astute commanders be who can save such a scenario as this B757? Once every 3 years in the sim doing a few simple unusual attitude recoveries is not the answer. it ticks a box, but.........