Originally Posted by Clandestino
Grabbing the wheel from your cockpit significant other or "helping" him/her is not an usual, approved procedure (there is good reason for it) and can be used only in extremis and for very limited period of time. Also algebraic sum of sticks nicely replaces the rigid coupling; as simple spring makes displacement proportional to force the effect is the same as if two pilots were fighting over coupled controls.
"I say again, AF447 was not an "in extremis" accident." It was a "usual, approved" procedure so there was absolutely no need for the PNF to either see, "grab the wheel" or "help" the PF, who was in the normal process of crashing the aircraft.
What's all this Dozy and Clandestino codswallop about the horrors of grabbing the (real) stick off the FO if he can't cope?? So what if I take over? If I was flying with 200hr FOs, I would expect to occasionally.