Originally Posted by
Ebola
I’m truly puzzled by this sentiment. This change has moved us to the industry standard. We were the only ones not doing it. Like setting zeros, etc. Reading the FMA is meant to force us to actually look at it. Ideally, we’d verify it silently, but that doesn’t work consistently. Hence the talking. Being in level change instead of VNAV hasn’t been fixed due to another gap in our procedures. When we hear the words ‘cleared for the approach,’ what are we required to do and say?
I don’t understand your clearance example. You’re reading the FMA, after you’ve read it back to ATC. What part of that makes you forget the clearance? Honest question, maybe I misunderstood you.
The main issue with the new system is training. A long, poorly written RBF along with a short video. That’s a cheap and haphazard way to fundamentally change the way we do things.
I don't disagree with you actually. Reading the FMA is the way we should always do it. It's all the talking. And the roles assigned as PE and PV. Both pilots should be verifying.
Talking is great until it isn't. It becomes too much in busy times to the point where the talking is more effort than the doing and verifying. I only have so many functional brain cells. I need them to be freed up to do things like breathe and pay attention to flying stuff. If they are all occupied reading modes of the FMA out loud, that isn't good.
Like I said, I try to do things the way my masters want. Sometimes, though, it's all a little too much.