framer
I am afraid the primary method has to be automation backed up by manual skill. A pilot cannot keep switching off automation at the drop of a hat because he has insufficient knowledge of automation. Without AP You won't be able to stay in RVSM or operate CAT3.
I hear what you are saying Villas and I don't necessarily disagree with you. The topic is complex and I think we may be speaking at cross-purposes a little bit.
SFO happened basically because they didn't monitor speed and didn't know how the auto throttle works.
I agree 100%. So if we break it down in search of a resolution we get,
1/ Why didn't they know how the Auto-throttle system works?
2/ Why were they not monitoring the airspeed?
I'm talking about number two. The automation is the reason that they were not monitoring the airspeed. There are many different ways that we could legislate to make manual manipulation less foreign to our current generation of airline pilots. Thats the specific part of the problem I was talking about.
Cheers