RAT 5
I fully agree. The problem starts with today's training syllabi, like Multi-Crew-Licence-shorttracks and national-pride-ab-initio-direct-to-widebody careers (arabic countries) are flawed from the beginning due to lack of training of simple and basic skills and basic experience.
When the earlier generation started training, they did many hours on single, then twin, then turboprops. As students and then as young CFIs, as low-paid night mailshifters or even cropdusters. During these hours we had the "opportunity" to "almost screw-up" many times, to get close to the limits, we flew alone or together in non-blackbox-surveyed small equipment.
Many of such close encounters sharpened our senses, developed our early warning instincts and showed us our own limits and weaknesses. Similar experience was achieved in the Air-forces.
Every now and then someone paid the price, yes, but it was rarely with SLF!
Todays typical airline cadet and new FO has gone through the loops and hoops in record time, many logging unrealistic hours and the genuine ones with tight sops and 99% on autopilot or assisting the skippers. They know maybe three types of aircraft (another 20 in the MFS). Never given the chance to get close to any limits, their instincts are non existent, their early warning system digitally imprinted on the magenta cross on the PFD.
That is simply not enough for Murphys law, for some badly designed airline philosophy or some cheap maintenance and training.
Basic training should be just that: Basic training and not synthetic shortcuts.
It will never be possible to regain any lack of airmen-ship in a synthetic trainer, they can never be programmed realistically enough and without sound basic skills no program in the world can install professional skill into a human pilot.
It's as simple as that.