The RAF also have some of the best training in the world, get to select from an already highly self-selecting group, plan every mission like a space shuttle launch, and in many cases have more oversight. It's a ludicrous comparison. As someone said up above, every high time guy used to be a low time guy. And as a guy who used to be a low time guy, I can assure you that the right seat of an airliner is not the place to be learning how to fly.