Every now and then someone will make a statement about the quality of Pilots either from a specific airline or background. Pilots with a varied background often don't make these kinds of comments because they are very aware of the fact that you have above average and below average pilots everywhere.
What can be accurately discussed is the atmosphere created by companies with respect to the environment that pilots have to work under. A weak environment where procedures are ill-thought or not enforced allows less structured individuals to freelance the operation of the aircraft creating an unsafe or not as-safe state. I can say that Cathay has a very strict often described as anal enforcement of procedures in the cockpit which is something NA airlines do not have. This has very little to do with quality of a pilot but it does create a more professional operation generally speaking.
Being a NA pilot working in Asia I can say that many NA pilots come to Cathay with a very casual or relaxed attitude only to find that it is not accepted or appreciated by the large contingent of British and Australian Checkers.
One thing that is consistent when you ask a pilot “who is the best” the answer is usually "I am".
