then that old fashioned method of aviation that served us so well for so long when flying on instruments -- a working instrument scan and attitude/power flying
Lonewolf
This is a lost skill.And therein lies the rub.Automation/progress facilitates P2F,200 hour jet pilots and cost saving as it transforms the role of the "pilot" into a button-pushing "flight manager".And thats what
they want.The manufacturers(Airbus),the beancounters,the insurance guys and even the management pilots.But if automation and all the wizardry fail, there is no pilot anymore to take over,just a flight manager.
Re-introduce airmanship into the flight deck.Now.Simple airmanship would have told them that you never flirt with bad weather,you never avoid storms vertically,and you never ever wait for an ATC clearance to save the lives of you and your passengers.Speed margin is essential.Todays pilots flying near/in storm cells at FL410 should be shot.Go too close to a storm and you had better be at opt alt minus 4k with speed halfway between barber pole and min maneuver.That will give you a chance.A fighting chance.
I know that the "Airbus factor" will come into this one and it will be interesting to see just how the Airbus design philosophy helped or hindered the pilot and whether or not the investigators will call a spade a shovel even with the French there in force.