Originally Posted by Oktas8
I don't mean to criticise you personally Ttex600 because I don't know what else was said. But hypothetically, if manual flying is uncommon at an airline, and a capt decides to do some raw data flying without any verbal preamble at all, I'd be a little scared too. Not of the aircraft, but of what other random ideas the guy to my left is going to throw into the cockpit without warning.
Not every reticent FO is a child of the magenta line. The conversations that captains foster, are the most useful learning tool for me.
My carrier employs a far greater percentage of "cowboy" pilots than almost any other jet transport aircraft flying airline in existence. A lot of pilots, maybe not a majority but a significant number, handfly often. Turning the FD's off is about all I can find to explain his concerns.
He was briefed BTW, and in exactly the same briefing that I gave him permission and encouragement to to the same.
PS. The top third of our sen list were/are all high time DC9 Captains with a large percentage of us originating in a Learjet night freight environment. I'm certain that hand flying is quite common. Hope that sheds a bit more light.