This thread became as drama filled as the nightly news on a major network. Or a high school scuffle because someone “dissed” another.
Regarding the Pro Card. I wouldn’t use that to prove one’s knowledge or skill level, because it’s a poorly implemented trophy.
Most likely this will be an inadvertent shutdown event and it will get discovered in the CVR and FDR review. If so, I’m guessing there will be some revelations in the preliminary report. If it turns out to be something else (excluding the unlikely “downing” speculations) it will come with the final report. That long two years or so.
I agree that the Pro Card doesn't prove one's "knowledge or skill level." But I'll take it one step
further and say that it's difficult to prove one's knowledge or skill level being an airline,
charter pilot, cargo pilot, etc. I guess that's unless you just don't screw up and just keep on
moving up the ladder of seniority - but that doesn't show much ingenuity, imagination, raw
brainpower, and the dogged determination that it takes to differentiate yourself in the business
world where the sky can literally be the limit for people like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk,
etc. - but there's many, many lesser examples than that - those are just at the extremely high-end.
And having a "farmer's mentality" helps as well - according to Ryanair's CEO (who runs one
of the most successful airlines in the world - just check the stock price) you're better
off being an accountant and having "farmer's mentality than a pilot to run an airline.
Actually, in his mind, pilots have an "easy job."
<<He believes that accountants are by far the best to run an airline, even if having “no personality”,
but of far more personal influence was the fact that he grew up on a farm.
“Farmers have to survive the winter. They don’t waste money; they are very conscious of buying when
everybody is selling and selling when everybody is buying” he told me. He has an aversion for debt and
attributes his drive at Ryanair to “being of farming stock, not wasting money so you can survive through
the winter until spring comes.” >>
A key influence for Ryanair's Michael O'Leary was the fact that he grew up on a farm. “Farmers have to survive the winter. They don’t waste money; they are very conscious of buying when everybody is selling and selling when everybody is buying”
www.forbes.com
And, according to O'Leary, even though pilots are highly trained professionals (which I definitely agree with),
they're not doing a "hard job." I also think that he should have added in there that pilots need good judgment.
PS: I agree with the farmer's mentality 100% - as an entrepreneur,
it's helped a lot to get me get through several tough recessions
over the years.