To be frank, the techniques needed to land a airliner and a Tampico, diamond or one of the cessna's at seletar flying club are all different.
It's been years since I flown a 152/172/58/L45, and I can safely say I have no confidence heading out to area alpha on my own.
Flying is all about currency. You don't maintain it, you lose it. Your friend is not a bad aviator, he's just not been flying what you been flying.