Originally Posted by
TowerDog
And the pilots have no responsibility for thinking outside the box, for surviving a TV screen going bad and for basic flying skills?
They can only do what they are thought and nuthin else?
Of course they have some responsibility, but the problem is that from their first flight at a civilian flight school, they are placed in an environment and thought a mentality that does not prioritize or foster basic pilot skills like the skills you earned in the bush. For many young pilots, this is unfortunately and not by their own fault, their understanding of aviation.
I wonder how many of those involved in accidents like this one, Collagen and AF447, actually spent their first 1000-1500 hours piloting an aircraft equipped with a minimal level of automation, thereby learning basic aircraft handling by heart. Instead we now have crews piloting complicated machines with high level of automation, while having as low as 250 hours of real stick and rudder time under their belt. And after 2000 or 3000 hours on type they are considered experienced although their total stick and rudder time still rests at 250 hours plus a few minutes on every second flight. Furthermore, the needed skills will diminish over time, and both pilot and more so their company and regulators have a tremendous responsibility to do something to maintain it.