This question came up in a game yesterday.

Scenario:

Rebel team 1: Etahn A'baht (E-Wing), Blue Squadron Pilot (B-Wing)

Rebel team 2: Rookie Pilot (X-Wing)

A'baht is down to three hit points left and has already shot. Rebel team 2 has initiative. The Rookie Pilot shoots at A'baht and kills him, but is in A'baht's firing arc within range 3. Does the Blue Squadron Pilot get to use A'baht's pilot ability?

My argument is that the Blue Squadron Pilot does get the benefit of A'baht's ability because the Blue Squadron Pilot is shooting at the same time as the Rookie Pilot due to the simultaneous attack rule.

A neutral third party says that the Blue Squadron Pilot does not get the benefit of Abaht's pilot ability because he is removed from the table as soon as the damage cards are dealt. I say that this doesn't matter because both the Rookie Pilot and Blue Squadron Pilot are shooting at the same time.

No, he doesn't get Etahn's buff. The simultaneous fire rule applies only to the ship that is tied for initiative; if Etahn is destroyed, he is removed from play. If he is removed from play, the Rookie is no longer in his firing arc. This is why having the initiative can actually be good*: you can stack up extra effects before the other guy attacks. Crits, for example, can still affect you with the simultaneous shot rule.

I know that the fluff says they shoot at the same time, but the rules say that the Rookie fires and resolves his attack normally, and then, after that, the other guy shoots. In fact, the simultaneous fire rule doesn't even come into play here--it only comes into play if the Blue gets shot down by the Rookie.

*Moving last is usually a much bigger deal than shooting first.

The BSP doesn't get to use Abath's pilot ability, just as an Academy Pilot wouldn't get to use Howlrunner's.

Simultaneous attack rule only applies to ships of equal Pilot Skill, and only to ships that have not yet had the opportunity to shoot.

Teams:

1 - Biggs

2 - Winged Gundark, Night Beast

Scenario 1:

Rebels have init. Biggs shoots and damages Beast. Gundark shoots and kills Biggs. Biggs is removed, and Beast is free to target anyone that was in range of Biggs.

Scenario 2:

Imps have Init. Gundark shoots and kills Biggs. Biggs will stay on the board untill he has had the opportunity to fire, so Beast must shoot at Biggs. Beast shoots at Biggs, swears when he rolls 3 hits and Biggs rolls 2 blanks. Biggs fires back, and then is immediately removed.

EDIT: Note that I selected 3 ships with PS5 to illustrate the point. It will work with any ships of equal PS, but not of ships of different PS.