olster
To be fair to AB, the demise of its chief of test is most likely statistically more probable than a low time line pilot. The line pilot should be very familiar with the fat part of the Bell curve re: handling. The Test Pilot flies in the corners, challenging the a/c's limits, virtually daily. He has a different mission, and it is not without enhanced risk. Insurance is more expensive for him for a reason. This is not to say his job is dangerous, only that he encounters more risk. His skillset is different, not necessarily "better". IMO
In this accident, a "test" was undertaken without the numbing prep work, and executed by a pilot who was out of his domain. The instructive part of the accident has to do not with AB "problems", nor is it to do with poor pilotage. It shows the results when preparedness is sacrificed and substituted with overconfidence that had no foundation in fact. imo
bear