Shortcomings? I think training is pretty good and we have more sims and modules than prior footprints of yore. What’s (thankfully) missing is the 3-5 hour “build me an airplane” oral nonsense which has nothing whatsoever to do with “stuck and rudder skills” anyway.

Was there a skillful art form in “stepping off the perch” in a 727 with engines at idle from the beginning of the base turn until touchdown? You bet there was! But it was still stupid and also meaningless to today’s safety forward way everyone flies.

While one may see some green or some rust here or there with some things, I think we as an industry are collectively much safer than in the days of the (for the sake of argument) “better sticks” that could recite every system on a chalkboard and do an idle descent from cruise to landing because skill.

I do agree with the eye rolls on the philosophical “no S-turns” shift as that seems a bit too broad brushed. But on the other hand, it’s rarely ever needed and when it is it makes almost no difference. Some carriers around the world frown on visuals in any context. Overall I think we’re pretty competent as an industry.

Especially considering when one studies the accidents of yesteryear. Every one of them had a high time systems building stick and rudder legend in the left seat and frequently in the right (and panel) too. Yet they made mistakes. Some of them so dumb we’d chastise a 15 hour student pilot for making them.

As for the 787 being more “real airplane” than the 350/330…lol yeah ok. I’d put the over/under on the eye rolls across the seniority list at 16,750 or more.