There is a definite safety case for this. How could one possibly argue that complete disconnection of the system is safer? Or is it the preference of care-free pilots to show off their "straight arm" technique on a Go Around as they light a Hamlet cigar?
I think you miss the point. First of all, the manufacturer (Boeing) test pilots put a lot of thought into their recommended procedures and this includes checklist design. Among other factors previous accidents and incidents are studied and where applicable the lessons learned from these are incorporated into the recommended procedures.
Rubbishing a manufacturer's recommended procedure is a risky legal procedure. Interestingly, few operators who take it upon themselves to change the manufacturer's procedure, have the courage of their convictions to contact Boeing with the results of their measured trials to prove the manufacturer's test pilot recommendations were wrong. In any case, few operators are going to employ the Human Factors experts and associated qualified test flying personnel that would be required to challenge the manufacture's own experts.
The reasons why, for instance, Boeing (737 series) recommend manual throttle use (autothrottle disengaged altogether) with certain areas of manual flight, may not necessarily be explained in full detail in the FCOM or FCTM. It would triple the size of some manuals if detailed reasons were given for and against certain procedures.
On the other hand, it also explains why some operators are perfectly happy to disregard a manufacturer's recommended procedure and change it to suit the whims of whoever calls the shots in the airline. And that is because they can only hazard a guess at why the manufacturer recommends a certain procedure without amplifying the reason.
If the operator or pilot decides to disregard the manufacturer's recommendation it is on his own head. But if something should go wrong then the legal eagles are waiting to pounce.
The other thing to remember, is that automation dependancy invariably affects those pilots who lack the training or pure flying ability to switch seamlessly from automatics to manual flight. Recent loss of control in IMC accidents attest to that. With more and more cadet pilots going into the right hand seat and trained primarily as autopilot monitors rather than as airmen, one is left with the perception that a perfectly normal manual go-around with no FD or autothrottle, turns into a non-normal event that becomes quite frightening to someone unused to hand flying.
It shouldn't be like that of course, but it happens. The crutch of the automatic go-around even on a visual approach is relied upon as a life saver by some. Bloody sad - but true. I doubt if that will ever change.
The high-lighted original quote, re straight arm go-arounds, would suggest the author has had an unfortunate experience with a normal manually flown go-around. More simulator training needed, methinks
