EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation
Human Factors; Procedure
Aligning for the runway I; Captain/PF (Pilot Flying); thought l armed the Auto Throttle. Just as I started to push to power up the PNF/FO (Pilot Not Flying/ First Officer) noted it was not armed. I 'again' armed it at that point. Just after gear retraction we received a rear warning and noted the flight director called for a descent which l ignored as inappropriate. The A/T started to retard the throttles. I overrode and disconnected the A/T. The FO then selected FLCH the FD returned to normal and the A/T was reengaged. It took us a while to determine that l had made the error of pushing the ALT button when intending to push the close by and very similar A/T button. A closer check of the FMA by both crewmembers would have at least caught the A/T mistake.
EMB-175 Captain reported that due to unfamiliarity with aircraft; Captain did not select correct setting for Auto Throttles; causing unanticipated warnings and confusion.