I read a discussion the other day about airline pilots don’t really have to do real flying these days. With all the technology people say it doesn’t take a real pilot any more and standards for pilots could be lowered, specifically lowering the level of experience required to be hired.
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That’s pretty much the model for Airbus and airlines outside the US (the Air France jumbo that crashed in the Atlantic a few years ago is a perfect example). I think American carriers still prefer military pilots and other real pilots who know how to fly.
http://www.wadenelson.com/gimli.html
Six miles out Pearson began his final approach onto what was formerly RCAFB Gimli. Pearson says his attention was totally concentrated on the airspeed indicator from this point on. Approaching runway 32L he realized he was too high and too fast, and slowed to 180 knots. Lacking divebrakes, he did what any sailplane pilot would do: He crossed the controls and threw the 767 into a vicious sideslip. Slips are normally avoided on commercial flights because of the the tremendous buffeting it creates, unnerving passengers. As he put the plane into a slip some of Flight 143’s passengers ended up looking at nothing but blue sky, the others straight down at a golf course. Says Quintal, “It was an odd feeling. The left wing was down, so I was up compared to Bob. I sort of looked down at him, not sideways anymore.”
And sadly Air France Flight 447