I don't want to leave this mornng's session having given the impression I'm biased to one 'side' or another. I'm not. I'm certain that Boeing will be held accountable for numerous shortfalls, but I'm equally certain the basic flying ability of some modern crews is woefully inadequate. They are just pressing on with their careers as best they can, it's the system that's wrong.
I can not imagine being in command of the MAX without the kind of background I had. Masses of empty sectors, and flying with people who loved to find out just what the aircraft would do. Neither of these scenarios happen much these days. Bums in seats and an electronic prefect connected to the fleet manager's office - where the SOP's line the shelves. Not my world, and not a background that can be simulated by a box on stilts.
In later copies of Handling the Big Jets, Davis (more or less) pleaded for crews to have an aircraft that they could throw around. A big stable electronic office teaches little.