Doktor
Appreciate your response and see your points, however:
- the latest FCTM I have indicates not NORMALLY (yes that word, NORMALLY) recommended which so many arbitrarily seem to not see;
- the same questions remains: why have the option...if it's never, ever, ever to be used??
With regards to being able to, years ago, fly with A/T DESELECTED and working great: you can still do this (done it for 24 years, so far no problems) with proper training and understanding.
Why, in this day and age anyone would want to NOT use functions that assist/improve safety I will never understand.
Sadly your statements regards Boeing and legals probably true - until you ask why it's safer to disconnect alpha floor and G/A thrust automation??
I thought the first dictum of every airline was "safety".
Personally - only because I was properly trained about the system and have had no problems for 24 years - I'll keep using DESELECT until the flat earth society finally catches and executes me!
Seriously appreciate your comments, probably I just can't understand why procedures/safety go backwards when with a little training it can be maintained/improved.
Centaurus
Maybe talking at cross purposes but A/T DESELECTED is manual flight, if the PF doesn't adjust the thrust levers then thrust/airspeed don't change- for better or worse!
Totally agree - A/P turned off with A/T still engaged is non Boeing and can (probably will) turn into a
fight.
A/T deselect is a manual mode...and may just save your ass on a dark and stormy, min circling approach if you get "distracted" or have to do a G/A.
Call me crazy - I reckon that's good use of the available systems.