HF,
I agree with you - it seems I just have a slightly different interpretation of qualification and experience. But these are the skills that pilots really need, but they are either not taught (or at least developed) at all or not taught properly.
You have the benefit of having a military background, where selection was well organised and practised. The subsequent training was far more comprehensive than civillian courses. But that was for a different job, where pilots are more or less the top of the food chain. You were groomed in the forces to believe you were the best, and no doubt you had to work hard to get to the standard required. Like it or not, the civillian system is very different. We are nothing but bums on seats who manage to tick the right boxes every six months. Fortunately most of us strive to be a lot more than adequate. But we are not rewarded for good performance - promotion is based on time served (and being able to tick a new set of boxes). That sends a very clear message to me about the way pilots are viewed by the aviation industry managers. No, it is not the way it should be. But that is what you get with the current system. We are not recognised as being top of the food chain and we will not be until the civillian industry does something to develope the skills a pilot really needs to command an aircraft right from the very start of training.
Rotorswede,
My biggest gripe is with Airline pilots (both rotary and fixed wing) who have lost touch with reality and I have not really made that clear. The type of pilots you mention (utility for want of a better description) are generally of a different attitude. Maybe because they are highly specialised, inherently flexible and are more highly valued by their employers.
Despite might my rather modest view of piloting, I love flying, I love the job and I live the life style. It would be great if pay and conditions were better, but I won't loose sleep over it. It would be great if pilots really were on a par with Architects and Engineers (Lawyers and Accountants as well if you like), but I don't really care. But what would be the best is if aviation got its act together and made the training mean something more than just the hoop jumping exercise that it is now.