Been stated before but years ago Boeing instructors stated that as 737 was often first/level entry jet then work on KISS principle ie all automatics either OFF or ON...HOWEVER in airlines with proper/sufficient training of various options available (in this case Autothrottle ARM rather than DISCONNECT) then fill your boots and use the features Boeing have made available to the maximum extent.
Monitoring rather than flying safer says Mr Boeing - makes sense.
Above applies to Control Wheel Steering, another great asset but for too many (sometimes people, sometimes authorities) simply white mans magic; all another story.
Cheers.
Last edited by galdian; 24th Dec 2011 at 09:55.