It covers more than just one year, you have to read which data is which. But I've been following this stuff for decades and it hasn't changed much. Europe lags behind the US on airline safety, period. Unless you just total up the crashes with no regard for the number departures/flight hours

I've flown a couple types where the trim could move automatically when hand-flying, typically to make hand-flying easier. Trim motion in and of itself was not abnormal (unless it doesn't stop).

Depends how you cherry pick your stats. US commuters in the 90s and 00s were not very safe when compared to their Western European counterparts. Add half of Russia to Europe, and stats flip over.

Not sure what it is you are implying from my question. The claim was that ab initio pilots who start at their career airline are cheaper than US pilots who spend decades flying elsewhere before they ever enter their career carriers pay scale. It seemed counterintuitive given my understanding of CBAs only in the US. Just trying to engage in discussion on, well, a discussion board.

Thanks dera, that makes sense and certainly changes the picture I had in mind.

In the US, no C172 with five checkride busts is getting an airline seat, so that’s a silly argument.

I agree either the US training program or the outside ab initio system can produce safe air carrier pilots. But, someone who has spent loads of classroom time, some instructor-based sim and aircraft time to reach a “200 hour” MPL status has zero experience in the real world rough and tumble operational world. Very little! It’s all “paint by numbers” follow the script ability. Throw a spatial disorienting situation, multiple failures or an ATC curveball like a “slam dunk visual” and the brain circuit breakers start tripping. I’ve seen in the AF flying heavies, recent graduates have loads of answers, some great basic skills, but tell them 20 miles from the field to land visually and it gets interesting to watch. Safety has become very much a product of system reliability, operating within very tight controls.

GF

The 737 does not have that kind of feature. MCAS trims 2.5 units ND quickly. The rapidly spinning trim wheels and back pressure building in the yoke should be a small clue it’s a trim issue.

Even if the trim motion was in the wrong direction?

A good friend of mine has more than 5, and is working at one of the top tier regionals.

I don’t think you understand how regional recruiting works today.

Well, I didn’t know it was that bad, but getting recruitment flyers at age 66 should tell ya something. Maybe you should have encouraged him to try another field of work. It’s gonna be interesting.

I know from being on the OEM side, the safety offices at all the manufacturers were concerned about pilot training and experience levels 8-10 years ago. We were watching the generational turnover and dearth of new starts wondering how it play out. Incidents showed the trend line years ago especially at regionals.

GF

There is no bottom with bottom feeders today. This guy is actually a solid pilot, just didn’t do well at an ATP school with their methods.

Meanwhile getting hired with multiple felonies, prison time etc is not an issue today. And the regionals will push you through, if you fail at first, another one will give you a second chance. And just like Frank Abagnale passed the bar, “try it often enough and you will pass”, they too will hit the line.