The thing that disturbs me about much of this thread is that many of the responses suppose that the problem lies with individuals. Unfortunately, this is the same attitude taken by our management that relieves them of the responsibility that many of our problems are due to decisions and policies taken from above. There is no doubt that some of the criticism of the training here is warranted. Where I think the criticism is misplaced is that it seems to be focusing on individuals rather than the system that is spawning the problems. Lets face it, this airline is run by beancounters and has been for years. Ask any middle manager in the company (and not just in Flt. Ops.) and if they are honest, they will tell you that they do not have the resources to do the job adequately. Sim sessions jammed packed with manoeuvres that don't allow time for instruction? It's been that way for years and the minute that anyone suggests stretching it out - perhaps with an extra sim session, the beancounters are on it like you know what - costs too much. Can't do a practice NPA on line? Don't hold your breath for extra sim training to take up the slack. If there is a problem with newer instructors, more than likely the problem is not enough training or supervision when they are starting out. In any type of system, if the data shows a trend (and not just an isolated incident), then by definition, the problem lies within the system (policies, procedures and processes) that has been set up by the company. Of course it is much easier to blame individual pilots/instructors/middle managers.
Emirates is, by a lot of measures, a very successful airline. They maintain a centralized, iron handed control over their costs. We line employees see first hand some of the consequences of that control. The depressing thing is that this might be what is required to run an airline in this day of $70 a barrel oil. It certainly doesn't seem to be unique to Emirates - they just seem to be better at it than others.