Good point about simulator recurrent training. A significant amount of scheduled simulator training is spent on LOFT exercises with its accent on warm and fuzzy CRM, deep and meaningful crew discussions on MEL's, and highly unlikely multiple scenarios dreamed up by the training department.
Yet accidents continue to occur because pilots land too fast and long on short wet runways, fail to react fast enough to GPWS pull up warnings, and stuff up gusty crosswind landings. Surely this is where accent on simulator training should be. I am amazed to read that many operators do not allow first officers to practice aborted take-offs, on the flimsy basis that only the captain will carry out an abort. Incapacitation of the captain during the take off run is obviously not considered.
On how many occasions during a precious 3-monthly sim check is a pilot allowed the opportunity to practice 35 knot crosswind landings until he or she is totally competent? By practice, I mean not just one lousy go, but several landings set up by the simulator instructor from say 1000 ft on final. Same with GPWS pull up practice from a glass mountain until fully competent. Speed brake extension in descent followed by a GPWS pull-up can change the mechanics of the pull-up actions. Does one see real dual instruction on this manoeuvre? Not on your nelly.
LOFT is fine as long as the whole period is not wasted on getting from A to B with countless Shakespearian scenarios where the actors are the crew and the flight deck is the stage. Down to earth practical flying skills training is where the simulator comes in on its own - if only trainers will realise it.