Looking back at the AF447 video, the attitude indicator is clearly showing a WAY nose high attitude from start till impact.
But your "modern" pilot does not fly
attitudes - they consider "Manual Flying" to be moving the stick to centre the FD bars
Ask them to fly an approach with the FDs off, and they struggle.
Elsewhere asked "why did AF447 climb / stick back?". Noteworthy that in the mode changes the FDs went off and then reappeared as systems restored themselves. Of course, in these circs they come back in "basic modes" - vertically current V/S. So:
- FDs disappear (due ASI issue)
- For reasons various (see above) and in absence of AP/FDs PF pulls back
- FDs reappear in V/S climb
- However, due decreasing speed, and inappropriate pitch attitude selected by PF, that V/S is unattainable
- PF continues to "pull" to match FD and is still trying as aircraft stalls and gives up - but pull is still maintained
No doubt this will be Airbus' FD "at fault".
As you say, if we wish to prevent this then regular manual flying (
without FDs) required on the line. Actual visual UP, then Instrument UP recoveries required in appropriate aircraft - and not just trained, but currency maintained.
The issues are not the individual pilots' fault, but the current state of the industry. I doubt they will have the inclination / $$$ to solve it, just accept the odd accident and blame the pilots
