Hand flying a glass cockpit big airplane
Over several years, both here on PPRUNE and in several other forums this issue of "losing handling skills" keeps coming up.Certainly it is real, I even notice it affecting me even though I have 20,000 plus hours and have been an instructor on big jets for 25 years.
One answer, which is a method I use, during the initial line training/IOE period, is about once every 4-5 legs, just prior to flap extension, I turn off AUTOPILOT, FLIGHT DIRECTOR and AUTOTHROTTLE, providing conditions are suitable, and let them "feel" the machine.Many seem to take this practice into their flying lives, its very satisfying to see and the results show up in the SIM training as well.Pete.