Practicing manual flying in jet transport ops.
Some may have already seen this FAA SAFO. But it raises the question of various limitations that prevent manual flight practice.
SAFO
Safety Alert for Operators
U.S. Department SAFO 13002
of Transportation DATE: 1/4/13
Subject: Manual Flight Operations
Purpose: This SAFO encourages operators to promote manual flight operations when appropriate.
Background: A recent analysis of flight operations data (including normal flight operations, incidents, and accidents) identified an increase in manual handling errors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes maintaining and improving the knowledge and skills for manual flight operations is necessary for safe flight operations.
Discussion: Modern aircraft are commonly operated using autoflight systems (e.g., autopilot or autothrottle/autothrust). Unfortunately, continuous use of those systems does not reinforce a pilot’s knowledge and skills in manual flight operations. Autoflight systems are useful tools for pilots and have improved safety and workload management, and thus enabled more precise operations. However, continuous use of autoflight systems could lead to degradation of the pilot’s ability to quickly recover the aircraft from an undesired state.
Operators are encouraged to take an integrated approach by incorporating emphasis of manual flight operations into both line operations and training (initial/upgrade and recurrent). Operational policies should be developed or reviewed to ensure there are appropriate opportunities for pilots to exercise manual flying skills, such as in non-RVSM airspace and during low workload conditions.
In addition, policies should be developed or reviewed to ensure that pilots understand when to use the automated systems, such as during high workload conditions or airspace procedures that require use of autopilot for precise operations. Augmented crew operations may also limit the ability of some pilots to obtain practice in manual flight operations. Airline operational policies should ensure that all pilots have the appropriate opportunities to exercise the aforementioned knowledge and skills in flight operations.
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After reading that lot, and keeping in mind it is almost one year since the FAA published this SFO, the absence of any CASA advice on the subject suggests that in Australia at least, there is no official (CASA) interest in pushing operators to encourage manual flying under any conditions, let alone in good weather.
Allowing for obvious limitations in Australian airspace, such as RVSM and RNP operations, during what stages of a typical airline flight would the opportunities for manual flying practice be available to pilots if they choose to accept the FAA SAFO recommendations? And disregard personal preferences where some pilots simply cannot be bothered to conduct manual flight (apart from take off and short final for landing). From what I have observed there is no shortage of excuses among airline pilots to avoid practicing hand flying. That includes captains discouraging their first officers from keeping their hand in under suitable conditions
Last edited by Centaurus; 9th Mar 2014 at 06:09.