Training and practice are only effective if the procedure is executed correctly to develop not only muscle memory but also develop cognitive focus on certain critical items where and when it's called for. But it doesn't take training and practice in a sim to KNOW the procedure, and KNOW where these cognitive focal points are. If they are spelled out in the AFM/FCOM/SOPs, it's our responsibility to know them even if common sense and experience don't tell one so. Knowing the procedure is essential to our duties in whichever role we are in for that sector, every time we fly.
Verifying G/A thrust setting is a cognitive act to be performed as one of the first steps in the procedure whether it be using the automatics, manually flown, has touched down, or not. It is no different than verifying pitch, and checking the thrust is supposed to occur for every T/O or M/A as well. If muscle memory pushes the thrust levers forward, it still doesn't do away with the procedural and common aviation sense item to verify thrust is being produced.
It's the procedural focus on verification and where it falls where it does in the procedure that acts as a backstop for flaws in automatics and/or muscle memory because it will expose something is amiss and will elicit a immediate response by either pilot. Mental discipline to do those 2 things (verify pitch and thrust) is the weapon against fixation and distraction, and every professional has the responsibility to maintain their own mental discipline and not lapse into bad or incomplete cognitive habits.
If either pilot had accomplished this initial, fundamental step in the procedure that is based on putting primacy of cognitive action and focus on aviating, nobody here would be talking about re-designing every aircraft system that can lead to confusion for those not willing study, or designing fancy wind sensors because someone might build a hangar within 1 mile of a runway. The idle power would have been immediately noted, fuel would have been manually stuffed into the situation within a second by either pilot without having to think, and the non-event hiccup de-briefed at a later time.
Last edited by PukinDog; 10th Sep 2016 at 07:09.