If a pilot (one, not “a few”) chooses to leave mid season because he is finding night work very difficult, years later when he chooses to return to the industry of course he will make up an excuse for leaving that does not focus on his own shortcomings.
What a really stupid statement. If the guy chose to leave because he wasn't comfortable doing what he was doing............More power to him. He is still alive. How can this be construed as a short coming???.
What makes you think he will make up any excuses????. I think that not being comfortable is a damn good REASON (not excuse)to leave a job and stay alive. If he was a low timer, then its the responsability of the company he is working for at the time to recognise his limitations and train him through them to a higher experiance level. not make him do something he is not happy about doing and then bagging him for taking the HUGE step of leaving an industry because he wasn't comfortable.
No one died, nothing was wrecked and an operator was slightly inconvenienced. Bloody good outcome I think.