Originally Posted by gums
"...As many here have opined, we are losing basic airmanship skills and experience..."
In the AirAsia case the PIC had F5 experience, upset recovery training in the 737, 4,678 hrs on type and 20,573 total hrs. He had received Alternate Law stall recovery training, and high altitude stall recovery training.
Unlike the old black/white horizon, the A320 PFD has a large blue/brown display right in front of each pilot. The EADI does not require mental interpretation of numeric values -- it graphically and colorfully reflects the aircraft pitch attitude:
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../8/1887874.jpg
There is no indication of dissimilar attitude readings between the PFDs or the backup display, hence no rational reason for the pilots to doubt the attitude indication. They were all showing blue, which means the aircraft was pitched way up. Why the pilots would not take the obvious action is a mystery. You would expect even a student private pilot to know and act better. This issue is apparently beyond basic airmanship, and involves psychology and human behavior under stress.
Of course the SIC was flying. But if this level of experience by the PIC is not sufficient to maintain CRM and intervene, then what is?