[rx]

with all the automation pilots have forgotten how to actually fly the plane

I agree that that's true in many cases, but by no means in a majority of cases.

I am a flight instructor that occasionally is asked to give a required biennial flight review to airline pilots. In some small minority of those cases, those pilots can be overwhelmed by the workload that faces them in the general aviation craft they've been willing to rent for their review ride with me.

It may not mean they're similarly substandard in their usual front office, but it does mean they've over-estimated their skill at basic flying skills in a craft they don't regularly fly.

[elteemike]

Could something as simple as despite training, some pilots in certain parts of the world never fully understand what’s going on with their aircraft, have a poor understanding of what makes their aircraft fly, and rely instead on “monkey see-monkey do” training response?

Just asking...? I’ve read several accounts written by US military instructors trying to train foreign “pilots” and the challenges things like low aptitude, poor memory and training retention presented...