FlexibleResponse that’s a great analogy. Let’s take it one step further.
This is a question to all you pro MPLers out there.……….. Would you send a loved one needing life threatening surgery to a surgeon who has only done an accelerated, simulated specialist course? Only an abbreviated medical diploma for the basics, 10 days experience as an intern and then some simulated surgery training. No Medical degree, no experience.
Unless your an idiot, then the answer is no. So why would anyone send loved ones up in a plane with an MPL pilot who is responsible for many lives, not just one.
Flying is still inherently dangerous. People just tend to forget that nowadays, especially if they know the instructor can hit the pause button if it gets out of shape. There is no substitute for decision making experience period.
As someone stated earlier, sims are an excellent training aid for experienced pilots. What do airlines look for in their interviews? Decision making thought processes during real scenarios. Not something that can be taught in a sim and applied later to unknown scenarios.
Another point is that these MPLs will never have an appreciation of the Captain’s responsibility, duties or role. They will essentially be the Captain’s secretary, look but don’t touch. Talk about a steep cockpit gradient and subsequent safety implications later on.
If this ridiculous scheme gets the nod, who will wear the blood if an 85ton 737NG carrying 200 people crashes because an MPL rated crewmember froze at the wrong time. CASA?