I guess they still do step down approaches. Other than at home base that is all I did since terrain prevented anything else at TGU in Honduras. We didn't line up with the runway until 100 ft AGL. Try doing that on autopilot. That hill on final approach to the north makes every approach impossible with out a competent hand flown approach. I always thought step down approaches were very easy. Now they are hard????? 8 years ago we had a VDP to help on the final segment. We don't have that any more? AF has shown what automation dependence can do to a crew not capable of hand flying. Hopefully this is not spreading to the whole industry.