To answer Woofer's question, yes there are some operators that require the A/T to be used even in manual flying (when available).Mine is one of them.This procedure is approved by Boeing.
As eloquently put by Slasher in his earlier posting, the need to have the A/T operational throughout the flight regime especially on approach is a matter of safety & common sense, not to mention saving our butts!
Our theatre of operations require us to fly in unpredictable tropical weather & making non precision approaches is part of our staple diet.Hence the need to have all available options ,automation & redundancies working for us & not against.
A pilot who is worth his or her salt would be profficient to handle all aspects of the a/c flying characteristics with & without system failure or failures.So having the A/T working with us is a wise option.As for the argument of throttle hunting & trim changes, that is easily addressed by selecting the ARM mode for the A/T.Again respective operators will have their views on this but like I said ours has been thought throughly before the proverbial "pen unto paper".
Flaps one, all our pilots are checked to fly at 'pure manual' mode but why do you leave yourself exposed to the 'elements'?It is a matter of policy & it's just that.
Safe Flying all
