Director;
I must disagree... I find that the training that pilots get both in the sim and in the classroom in how to deal with ATC and how the system actually works is totally lacking, and as we move into the new world of GPS and RNAV approaches, departures and arrivals, it is getting worse. We need to if not hook the sims (don't think that will happen.) at least get the sim instructors to be MUCH BETTER informed as to the actual workings of ATC and how they must apply it to the people that they are doing checks on. I see many folks with thousands of hours of flight time who fly commercially who "think" that they do know how the system works and how we ply our trade. After a day in class, the find out that they were wrong and have attested to it...
regards
Scott