The FAA have released another Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) stating that a recent analysis of flight operations data "identified an increase in manual handling errors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes maintaining and improving the knowledge and skills for manual flight operations is necessary for safe flight operations."
The FAA reasons that modern aircraft are commonly operated on autoflight systems, which enabled more precise operations combined with improved workload management and thus improved safety. However, "continuous use of those systems does not reinforce a pilot’s knowledge and skills in manual flight operations".
The FAA therefore recommends to all operators to take an integrated approach by incorporating emphasis on manual flight operations into both line flight and training. "Operational policies should be developed or reviewed to ensure there are appropriate opportunities for pilots to exercise manual flying skills, such as in non-RVSM airspace and during low workload conditions. In addition, policies should be developed or reviewed to ensure that pilots understand when to use the automated systems, such as during high workload conditions or airspace procedures that require use of autopilot for precise operations. Augmented crew operations may also limit the ability of some pilots to obtain practice in manual flight operations. Airline operational policies should ensure that all pilots have the appropriate opportunities to exercise the aforementioned knowledge and skills in flight operations."
The Aviation Herald
https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviat.../SAFO13002.pdf