OMG! Manual thrust. What a frightening experience. Would that be a Mayday or will a PAN PAN cut it?:D

Just for reference - is the A/T releasable under MEL on Your type?

I flew a few 4 sector days a week or two back with no AT (737).

Only restriction is CAT I only. Good excuse for a bit more hand flying.

From a FO's perspective,

At my base hand flying is encouraged by the majority of my colleagues in the LHS. No excuses needed, I disconnect normally around FL100-150. IMC as well as long as it's just clouds, no CB or weather needing extra attention. I enjoy it for the fun of it. I know many will disagree but the vast SOPs these day kill pretty much every freedom there used to be in flying. It's not a breach of SOP, and I am simply doing what the AP & AT would otherwise do.

I also do it because I am trained & paid to be a pilot, it's an art I'd like to see being kept alive. Manual flying on the line gives a good foundation of flying skills the TR did not provide. When I did my ATPL ride, the TRE told me the day before he had to fail another applicant. He gave him three (3) shots at a raw data ILS from intercept heading. He just couldn't do it. He's still on the line and probably many like him..

Was jumpseating the other day when the A/P disconnected in climb out due to intermittent SPD LIMIT FLAG. The PF was obviously caught off gaurd, hands all over the MCP.. LVL CHG.. nothing happens, dials in low V/S. Speed is slowly decaying towards up speed and I can't help but finally saying from where I am sat "the autopilot is off".. as you might have guessed A/P disconnect horn kept singing throughout the rather messy recovery. At the end of the flight the A/P finally came out at 500 ft fully configured on a beautiful SKC day destination.

172 driver,

What airline do you fly for? I would quite like to avoid them.

There are many reasons to avoid them..

But I am afraid this is not limited to one airline..