Hazelnuts
I don't think you could say that this crew of AF447 , were ever in danger of performing a near optimal manoeuvre.
The sim tests in a 320 mentioned earlier give 18000 as an achievable figure, my fudge factor of 50% I think would be reasonable netting a cool 27000!!
So somewhere between 11000 to 27000, I can guarantee you these numbers would be known by very very few line drivers(or senior management )
The argument for inclusion in sim cyclics can hardly be stronger.
I seem to recall a China Air B747 losing control because of an un-noticed outboard flameout, the resulting auto pilot unlock and VMC/stall/over speed was not recovered from till the aircraft broke out of cloud and became visual. The aircraft diverted to Anchorage, and was subsequently a total write-off.
This crew ad a complete panel of serviceable instruments.
It would seem the sheer lack of hand flying skills has been around for some time.