Originally Posted by TheProfessionalPilot
Ya know, they learned how to fly it straight and level. Make turns, climbs descents. My private student could fly it. The difference is the skills, systems, and good judgement that lead to a good pilot. Not a suicide bomber.
I think you have underestimated what the terrorists were able to accomplish. It required some navigation, basic aircraft knowledge and some fairly advanced airmanship skills. I certainly am not trying to make these guys out to be anything less than horrid terrorists but it does make a case for the ease of operating a modern jet. The terrorists only had FS2000 and a few hours in a 172. With classroom instruction and a real simulator I would bet that you could take a guy off the street and in 90 days make him into an effective First Officer with zero prior experience.
SkyHigh