Originally Posted by
misd-agin
Sleeper - I'm amazed, and dismayed, by the over-reliance on automation, especially auto throttles. There's a chance the report might be summarized in one line - button pushed, button didn't work, the plane crash without the pilots attempting to fly manually.
Power awareness, sensed by throttle position (Boeing) and verified by N1, or just verified by N1 on AB products, is one of the biggest degradation of flying skills that I've observed over the last 25 years. Must pilots use the auto throttles vs maintaining a healthy awareness of what the auto throttle is doing.
That's why I Always followed through until power was set and stable before removing my hand. That way it is muscle memory and wil be done even in stressfull moments. Nowadays a lot of pilots move from cadet status to airline after 200 hrs and thus will never achieve the muscle memory since it is button pushing in the sim from day one with very little handflying. Not their fault, but the airline training regime.