dalek
Your Post 5247
"Between 1994 and 2000- at least 35 UFCM's took place. So although not an every day event they were fairly common"
Well, assuming that the dates you quote were inclusive; I make that 1 occurrence every 73 days - which with a fleet of more than 40 aircraft means that each aircraft can expect to suffer (on average) a UFCM every 8-9 years. I would not describe that as "fairly common".
Many contributors have expressed the view that both of the 2 Pilots of ZD576 were "Exceptional". Back in the 1960's I came across a quote in a Flight Safety magazine that has always stayed with me:
AN EXCEPTIONAL PILOT IS ONE WHO USES HIS EXCEPTIONAL AIRMANSHIP TO AVOID SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE USE OF HIS EXCEPTIONAL SKILL.
NB No offence intended to the Ladies of today's RAF; I had the pleasure of teaching JG to fly the Andover back in 1991.