Basic Pilot Skills
Hi Folks,
I can make no real judgement as to the Air Asiana B777 accident at SFO.
However, I feel as a general practice throughout the whole Airline Industry, the use of Auto Pilot & other Automatic systems is overtaking the Pilot's basic ability, to fly the aeroplane. You can so easily forget some of the monitoring, when the Automatics are in control. Yes, modern aircraft are designed to make a great deal of use of all Automatic systems, but I suggest, this leads to a degredation of the old, hand flying skills. Many of the airfields I operated into, basically called for a hand flown 100% manual approach, very good practice & good fun as well.
Yes, by all means use the Automatics, they are there to help you, but No one priority, has & always will be, fly the aircraft!