To elaborate on what Lomapasea said about the 747-400, which almost hit the hill near SFO: one engine was vibrating so badly that the engine instruments were very difficult to read and if the little "ball" (supposedly different in a 400) which shows turn coordination was also shaking in the panel, then maybe both pilots were a bit confused at first. The two extra pilots sitting behind the flight crew were yelling at the Flying Pilot (FO) to push on a rudder instead of turning the yoke.
This might not have been a factor, but how often do most 744 FOs actually make a takeoff and approach/landing, other than in the simulator? On certain 'Interport' Asian trips, the basic crew flies several legs before returning to the US. Apparently, many of our senior FOs avoid these multi-leg trips and consequently rarely fly an approach in the real plane, because the two Captains share most of the approaches and landings, which is a result of our MEC's terror of having type-rated FOs (fewer 400 Captains needed
) ; and you thought that the French were terrified during the Revolution-that was nothing compared to the stark fear of an FO with a widebody rating! Mon Dieu Commissar, le Terror!! :0
Our 400 FOs normally go each six months back to the sim (can be concurrent with Annual Training) in order to meet the reg. for six approaches. landings per six months.