Far too many look down from their lofty FL350 FAR/JAR25 cockpits or 1G "full motion" SIM boxes to criticize the humble flying instructor for burning holes in the sky in light aircraft. However, it is the huge number of hours flown on reliable automation, deep inside the aircraft's manouevre envelope and potted tick in the box style SIM checks that have led to a degradation of pilot flying skills and a spate of LOCI accidents that Boeing suggests have killed some 2000 people in Western Jet Airliners over a 10 year period.
These are sometimes the ones who promote the zero to hero/ MPL schemes in favour of self improver/ apprenticeship routes.
However, AF447 is a case in point with both FO and SO having JAR integrated course and minimal pre-automated Airbus flying time before the tragic event.
The truth about the Colgan Q400 is also far more nuanced than BZB's comment suggests.
It was not simply a fatigue accident ( from
www.operationorange.org/colganQ&A.pdf )
How long before the Colgan Air/Continental Connection 3407 did the
captain commute to Newark?
Ans: 3 days
How long was the captain’s rest period between the end of his crew
pairing on February 11 and the scheduled report time for the crew pairing
that contained Continental Connection 3407 on February 12?
Ans. 21 hours 16 minutes
According to the NTSB, how much sleep did the 24 year old first
officer receive in the 24 hours prior to the crash of Continental Connection
3407, and how long had she been awake prior to the crash?
Ans. 9 hours / 9 hours
What was the experience level of the captain, when he applied for
employment with Colgan Air?
Ans. 618 hours, Gulfstream Training Academy, failed initial instrument
rating, failed single engine-land rating, failed multi engine-land rating,
graded “unsatisfactory” on two simulator sessions at GTA covering:
approach to stall-landing configuration, unacceptable altitude and
airspeed control, with repeated deviations.
NB: Gulfstream TA "job" on B1900 was P2F : Is P2F "customer" / voluntary worker always right if when they fail?
How much actual instrument time did the first officer have when she
applied for employment with Colgan Air?
Ans. 6 hours
How much experience did the first officer have with icing conditions
prior to her employment with Colgan Air?
Ans. None.