Another less expensive and time consuming way to maintain, or attain, hand flying skills is hand fly the airplane part of the time. I know this is unheard of in this generation because the autopilot can never be shut off without a really good reason per some opspecs.
Agree. But for various reasons there are a breed of pilots who find monitoring the automatics, rather than practicing manual flying, is money for old rope. In otherwise they simply cannot be bothered to fly manually in IMC even though conditions might be entirely appropriate for the practice. Other pilots might be perfectly happy to switch off the automatics and pole their aircraft but are prevented by the captain who becomes immediately apprehensive if the FD is switched off. That situation will not change. So much depends on the individual personality and dare I say his love or otherwise of flying.
Yep. It's a personal and personnel issue. If the pilots really wanted to maintain their professionalism on that level, they (and the unions, instead of protecting the weak) would figure out a way to do it. Unfortunately, in many companies the back-biting weasels in the group are dropping a dime on the folks who go against the dumbing-down company policy of allowing the automation to fly the airplane without regard for personal proficiency. Like many other professions and life's pursuits, we are often our own worst enemies.
Frankly, I'm thrilled to be retired from the airlines
and working for an outfit (run by pilots who understand) who values technology and human capability as equally important tools.
Refreshing...