vilas cites some sobering examples of poor piloting. Yes, we should remove poor pilots from the flight deck - but not leaving just one pilot ! Single pilot operations is the wrong cure for the problem. We already know how to fix this with the technology we already have: Well trained, properly examined, well rested, reasonably rostered teams of pilots, backed-up with well trained, well rested engineering and operations departments and ground crews.
What seems to have been happening is that in the push for ever lower fares, all aspects of airliner flying have been gradually eroded to where we are now; that some pilots are too tired or are just not very good pilots. Training and examining has been reduced so perhaps more marginal pilots are getting through.
And it seems ironic that to even get to an airline interview these days, one has to pass ever more ridiculous psychometric tests and written essays; none of which I have ever had to do - or even consider - on a flight deck while flying a plane !
With auto TCAS, auto EMER DES, and automatic single pilot cockpits, etc, maybe it will not be so important to airline managements that a pilot must be well rested, have good hand eye coordination, calmness in emergencies and good flying ability.
For 99% of flights, the airline managements might get away with that, but for the 1% when the automatics fail or a Qantas A380 engine explodes or a BA 747 flies through a dust cloud, stopping all engines, (which those (multi-pilot) crews managed to work through and land safely)............are managements thinking it would be a reasonable risk?