Originally Posted by
cbire880
On another note, I understand flying raw data to keep fresh, but shouldn't we all be using the highest level of automation available to us on a regular basis? Its the turboprop mentality that has people driving jets around at high subsonic speeds with 50+ people and hand flying. When the crunch is on, give the jet to george and free up the brain bytes. That's why the engineers and test pilots put him there.
I fibbed just a little bit in my earlier post...on my first approach to mins I let George fly. I won't be responsible for a go-around when I screw something up. I will gladly give George the aircraft when safety of flight calls for it.
But to answer your question, no. I think it borders on irresponsible to use automation religiously. The two best Captains I've flown with flew raw-data almost exclusively. They were sharp as nails and I learned a ton on both trips. And let's be honest. I feel safer with my family on a ratty-old DC-9 or 727 with two crusty old guys who have never seen a FD or FMS...than one of our state-of-the-art RJ's. We Pilots today would NOT cut it 30 years ago...That's a sad fact!