Originally Posted by
rickair7777
As long as everything is going smoothly there is a small grain of truth to this. But when something unexpected happens, an experienced professional is nice to have on hand...
Google Colgan 3407 and US Airways 1549...compare what we know about the pilot performance and final outcome.
More jetliners have been crashed at the complacent hands of experience then from new pilots.
A pilot will never be faulted for following procedures. In place of experience the ability to rote memorize procedures and to stick to the prescribed path will keep a pilot out of trouble. They might still crash the plane one day but they will pass every check ride and proficiency check. Overall however the inexperienced automaton will have a better safety record then the complacent maverick.
Pilots get into trouble when they leave the path. I am not completely briefed on the accident particulars of Colgan 3407 and US Airways 1549 but it seems to me that other factors were involved besides inexperience. I do not think that an accident has ever been blamed on inexperienced pilots, however there have been plenty blamed on over confident, arrogant and complacent experienced pilots.
Even Sully agrees that there are fewer truly experienced pilots in the sky anymore.
Skyhigh