Originally Posted by
HighFlight
If you can't hand fly a couple of headings without a heading bug and/or an AP, while maintaining a speed restriction... Perhaps you should consider a different career. As a holder of the equivalent of a Masters degree in flying (ATP), you should be able to fly the plane no matter what happens. I mean, what happens if you call for AP on at 600', and it fails to come on? Will you just abandon the departure procedure? Of course not. Have the PM hit the FD button, getting rid of all those distractions, and fly a heading and an airspeed.
I have to agree with this. On my eval ride at the end of OE, I had to make a visual go-around due to the tower's instructions. Beautiful day, I just left the auto pilot off as well as the FD (after we were level) and flew the aircraft around right traffic and brought it back in. However; I know some SID's can get pretty complex at times. Worst case, just have the PM stay on top of verbalizing the approach to you as you focus and fly the aircraft. Have him repeat what you want him to repeat. Maybe repeat back what you are doing just to make sure you both are on the same page. Good CRM goes along way. Use the PM!