It's the dumbing down syndrome. Happens everywhere.
Modern jetliners where the pilots can't even spell spin and stall never mind do them. Air France losing their last crash because of it.
Modern day pilots aren't pilots they are systems managers. I hear some airlines give their crews some 'real flying practice' occasionally to remind them what it's like to "FLY" an aircraft.
When I joined the RN in '77....we did demo VRS, EOL's from 50'/120kts, double engine off landings, Jack stall, aeros in a helo. None of this is taught now, not one bit. People only talk about that list I gave out earlier.
I often wonder whether the Strathclyde crash was a symptom of some of the above but with a twist. We shall learn soon (I hear the AAIB have completed their findings and are in discussion with relatives before they go to press).
And all of the above was in the military - God only knows what civvy helo pilots are being taught these days!!!
SDSR 2010 (mil defence review) attempted to assuage the critics by directing that 25% of all mil training would be in the simulator by 2015 and 50% by 2020. The conversion to SAR S92 glass cockpit is >90% simulator.
Better than nothing I suppose - at least it addresses each of these helo orientated aerodynamic issues. How many civvy pilots (GA) use a sim, I ask?
It's good to read feedback from people like N5296 and mastbumper who have respect for these 'gottcha's. I worry about people like Busdriver02 (nearly called him a pilot then
) who have complete contempt for the very subject matter.
Let's hope the former are in the majority.