It seems like in many areas people are divided into two camps, with each side strongly supporting its way of thinking while disparaging any other approach. Sometimes the pendulum of opinion swings from one side to the other, never pausing to stop in the middle. A balanced approach is usually more reasonable, applying the appropriate measures at the appropriate times.
One example of this in aviation is the autopilot versus hand-flying controversy. As an instructor at FlightSafety and SimuFlight and a check pilot for the Civil Air Patrol, I have seen both sides of this issue. For some pilots, “gear up, autopilot engaged” seems like one step in the checklist. As soon as they have achieved a positive rate of climb and raised the landing gear, they engage the autopilot, and it stays engaged right up until shortly before landing.
