Photonic, you beat me to it. If all you need me to do is start her up and pull the stick back then I can relax all about those sim checks and home study. Claim back the price of a small house that it cost me to qualify in the first place. Ignore the compo minded complaints from the SLF.
And:
why is no one considering the fact that this poor guy could have had his life saved by being talked down, even a controlled ditching? Just as a suicide jumper can be talked down from a bridge. There are 2 types of human communication, 1. A loving response or 2. a Cry for Help. When he started talking to ATC that was his "cry for help". There seems to be a number of pilot suicides, I'm surprised ATC dont have a speed dial to a trained negotiator or someone like Tony Robbins to at least try a therapeutic intervention.
Did you listen to the tapes? If ever there was a calm attempt at building a connection it was from that controller. I hope he is recognised for this.