I think the root of this discussion comes down to instructional theory. It’s ok that things have changed from the old ways because it was obvious to someone that there was a better way.

I think back in the day, the mentality was you should know how many rivets the wing has or at what speed some random motor spun at. I’m sure the thought was if a pilot knew something so obscure they would know all the systems around it.

Advancing up to modern day there are better ways to learn and more important things to know. AQP offers many benefits to both the airline, FAA and the pilots. I don’t have the data in front of me, but I would say as a whole the industry is just as safe, if not safer than in the days of old.

I will say the comment about not being paid enough or whatever from a few pages back turned my stomach. Regardless of the system, pay should never be a motivator or demotivating to a safety culture. We owe it to ourselves, our fellow pilots and the flying public to always try and hold to the highest standards, regardless of our pay, contract, company we work for or current success or failure of the airline economy.