While you and someone like HH who works in this role all day can make a smart and objective go/ no-go decision , does the same apply to all the AF pilots across the the wide range of experience and training that their website demonstrates?
My only point would be that I think I'd go with the judgement of a 66 YO 800 hour PPL who owns an aeroplane before most of the mass produced 21YO training factory CPL's who are the main fodder for charter ops.
The rate of fatal crashes in PVT ops vs CHTR and RPT seems to indicate not.
My opinion is that it will vary from pilot to pilot but on the whole, there will be more ppl's that get out of their depth when it comes to these decisions. Experience is the difference.
Some of the ppl's may have had decades of experience making tough decisions where the consequences were tangible and serious. In adition, they may have spent a lot of their spare time reading aviation incident reports which adds to their understanding of how certain things play out. Alternatively, they may have very little experience in decision making followed by 'wearing the consequences,' and never read anything aviation related after their licence obligations were fulfilled. It really is a mixed bag.The worst offenders in my opinion being the chaps who buy an aircraft because it satisfies their ego, not because they are passionate about aviation.
With the commercial pilots, they generally have constant exposure to the environment. They're immersed in it in most cases. They can spend 40-60 hours a week living breathing reading socialising flying. I think that plays in their favour. It's sort of like an 'industry currency'.
I know I'l get responses detailing how incredibly dedicated and knowledgable some ppls are. I know that, especially if they are on this site. I'm not disputing that, just saying that the consistancy in decision making skills is not as great in that group, simply because it doesn't have to be and we're human, which brings me back to the NVFR rating, all that does is make the decision harder for them.Make it easy, if it's gunna get dark, stay on the ground or get an ifr rating.