CAPT OF LJ60 IS DISTRACTED BY COPLT'S INADVERTENT DISCONNECT OF THE AUTOPLT AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLT PATH AND ALT DIVERSIONS WHICH FOLLOW. TCAS TA RESULTS.

Narrative

THIS FLT'S TA RESULTED FROM THE FLYING PLT LOSING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND NOT FLYING THE AIRPLANE AFTER INADVERTENTLY DISCONNECTING THE AUTOPLT WITH THE WHEEL MOUNTED SWITCH. THE FLYING PLT WAS DISTRACTED BY THE AUTOPLT CTL PANEL AND WAS HAVING ALT EXCURSIONS OF +0/-220 FT. DURING THIS TIME; I WAS LOOKING FOR TA TFC; COACHING THE PF AND ANSWERING ATC'S TFC ADVISORIES AND VECTORS. I FINALLY HAD TO FIRMLY COMMAND THE PF TO 'FLY THE ---- AIRPLANE!;' BEFORE THE PF TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTION. IN HINDSIGHT; I SHOULD HAVE PHYSICALLY TAKEN CTL OF MY FLT SOONER INSTEAD OF COACHING. THIS FLT'S INCIDENT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A DANGEROUS TREND THAT I HAVE NOTICED WITH EXPERIENCED PLTS FLYING MULTIPLE TYPES. IT IS EASY TO BECOME DISTRACTED TRYING TO FIND SWITCHES ON THE CTL WHEEL OR AUTOPLT CTL PANEL. FOR EXAMPLE; ON ONE ACFT; THE TOUCH WHEEL CTL STEERING SWITCH IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE PTT ON ANOTHER ACFT; WHICH IS THE FD COMMAND BAR SYNCH ON A THIRD ACFT. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THE INDUSTRY MUST STANDARDIZE ALL CTL WHEEL SWITCHES! USING DIFFERENT COLORS IS NOT ENOUGH! DIFFERENT SHAPE SWITCHES NEED TO BE USED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE YEARS AGO WITH PROP/MIXTURE/THROTTLE/LNDG GEAR/FLAP CTLS. THAT WAY THE PLT HAS INSTANT TACTILE FEEDBACK ON PROPER SWITCH ACTIVATION. LAST BUT NOT LEAST: FLY THE AIRPLANE!