This is getting a bit off topic here, but I'm going to chime in anyway.
After my last sim detail with one of the airlines mentioned by TP above, which is also a long time employer of cadets, we were having a frank discussion regarding safety, the current trend towards higher incidents and the changes in aviation that have affected the way cadets earn their experience. As the checky was also head of safety I decided to, as in previous post sim chats (something I came to enjoy whilst under their employ) bring the subject up. I queried their current cadet scheme and his view of the MCL. Interestingly his opinion, one shared by a number of their TRE's that I ran into there, was that the level of competence and airmanship had diminished in recent time. This has happened specifically since they have stopped flying short haul steam driven jets and shed the last of their turbo-props (the turbo-props many years ago in their case). Without going into detail, thing's are not looking good if we continue down this path of believing the airplanes are fool proof and can be flown safely, under all circumstances (loss of airspeed data which led to loss of LAW protection which is likely buried in a manual somewhere on a shelf, would be an example).
I share their concern.
What really concerns me is that this drive for cheap, "cooky cutter" pilots is being backed by the manufacturers, while at the same time these same manufacturers come out and tell us we should just be better at our jobs when something like the Turkish NG accident occurs. I flew for an airline that was so auto-centric that when the pilots did decide to hand fly they got themselves into deep trouble because a lack of understanding of the FMA's, the automatic systems ("the auto-throttle will save me if it's engaged while I'm hand flying, no matter what" belief) and frankly a scan that is worse than a first day instrument student.
In my opinion, the drive of money is going to kill people. Oxford is just foaming at the bit to get their programs going, and thankfully people like Senator Xenophon in Australia and the US Congress have decided we need a bit more study and information; the travelling public at the moment only seams to be concerned with getting to Majorca for a couple quid.
At any rate, like I said, just a bit of an opinionated rant and the moderator is free to move it as she sees fit. In the meantime I'm being very careful as to who's airplane I rest my but in.