I will hazard a guess that it is down to the lack of experience up front i.e 200hr monkees paying their way in to the flight deck (the only way in for an FO apparently, experienced first officers need not apply by all accounts). Very poor t&cs and generally harangued crews could also be a factor. The last and only time I had the displeasure of flying the council estate of the sky, my wife and I nearly required back surgery after splatter down. Say what you like but any experienced pilot should know where and how to make contact with the tarmac, only a fool will stretch the flare in order to try and achieve a greaser. It is perfectly reasonable to expect an airline pilot to roll the wheels down on to the aiming point without crippling the SLF, regardless of type and at the correct speed I might add. So beware of bad workmen blaming tools etc..And there are a lot more tricky types of jet out there than the venerable old 738.
