Generally it is believed that lack of experience is the problem. In this topic of stall alone we have seen that both experienced and inexperienced pilots have not only stalled the aeroplane they have not been able to apply correct recovery procedures. Experience is a very vague word. Mostly we log uneventful thousands of hours and that's how it should be otherwise the technology needs another look. But this innocuous experience does not give any confidence in dealing with abnormal situations. In aviation one does not learn through one's mistakes. So when it happens it is always first time. The confidence comes out of basic flying ability which does not require thousands of hours but sufficient practice depending on individual ability and good knowledge of abnormal procedures. Since we as a specie have no instincts in the air procedures are the only thing which saves the day for us. Everything we do in the air is acquired skill nothing is natural. There are experienced pilots who find it tough to do raw data ILS and there are others who cannot do visual approaches. It is because they never acquired the scan or the judgment. It all starts with simulator training. If not properly trained you cannot do it on line. If the SFO pilots would have tried as practice a visual approach some where else the result may have been same. With autopilot you are not handling the controls but scan is no different than manual flying. In some airlines with seniority pilots reach non judgmental stage where their checks become an exercise in ticking boxes. Nobody tells them anything anymore. Also with financial pressures airlines are reluctant to spend money on training. After all it is a business. Best airline is the one that stays afloat.