NTSB Issues 7 Safety Recommendations to FAA related to Ongoing Lion Air, Ethiopian Airlines Crash Investigations

I was a 17 year 747 pilot 12 as capt. When I went overseas to fly. Was almost down checked 'cause I hand flew IFR into JFK. "Use auto connections, co paid for them, use 'em". I will not look down on new pilots, but suggest companies make them use simulator time w/o auto much more than every 6 months.

We haven't heard much about single-pilot or no-human-pilot airliners for a while, so at least some good has come out of the MAX mess.

Considering the NTSB recommendations regarding assumptions made by pilots, more recently Certified Aircraft introduce Automation and Pilot management tools that were not available during the original 737 Certification. Given the dramatic increase in Flight Systems automation, I recommend an additional Certification Process for old aircraft that have added modern automation into older Pilot Managed aircraft. The investigation of the 737 MAX accidents suggest the flight crew depending upon automation rather than disabling the faulty system.

Just thinking out loud, with all the automation and so forth.. Especially in CAT III a/c, crews do not get enough stick time. Sure crews get to fly the simulator... but it seems like a good thing to have the crews to have to fly a minimum amount of time hands on no Auto Pilot... Even if not in RVSM airspace... I remember a had to defer an autopilot system and the captain thanked me, because he said he does not get enough time flying.... His FO told him.. You can have the first and long leg! - We all laughed and all was good.