When automation works it is fantastic. When it quits working turn it off because it can hurt you. Manual flying skills should still be required for all airline pilots. Airlines that rely on automation for 250 hr pilots to fly passengers is crazy. Simple loss of airspeed procedures for all airliners gave a chart for weight, altitude, attitude and power to survive. Air France put their flight into the Atlantic with their Airbus recently. Did they have that training? Why do we have to dumb down our procedures to hire unqualified junior pilots. We have plenty of qualified pilots in the US to fill these positions but for a reasonable salary. We are not short of pilots, just short of airlines that will pay them what they should. I only know about the US so hope European pilots are equally qualified.