Certainly possible but not required. In the B737 family, most of the main controls are essentially power assisted direct controls.
Boeing consistently has preferred more-or-less manual controls, while Airbus took the other direction (in which the pilot guides the computer, which operates the controls).
All airlines can fly happily in completely "manual" mode. Boeings are doing this most of the time, Airbus's only do this when the situation is outside the computer's envelope.
Boeing consistently has preferred more-or-less manual controls, while Airbus took the other direction (in which the pilot guides the computer, which operates the controls).
All airlines can fly happily in completely "manual" mode. Boeings are doing this most of the time, Airbus's only do this when the situation is outside the computer's envelope.