I … remember ….. when ….. ‘Check’ was a young lad ….
KLM’s induction training included 40 hours of sim training! (Being a foreigner they concluded we obviously did not know how to fly on the correct side of the sky). How many companies have an induction course of note nowadays – even though it’s a requirement in the OMA/D?
Thereafter it was the sim, for both aircraft types, every 6 months!
The foray into Norwich, with KLM Era UK, upset the Brit operator who lost the contract – but their influence in the UK CAA meant that even with a S76B (which is capable of everything a new S76C+ can do) CAA Examiners were not interested in seeing the management of failures on AP’s, FD’s nor Radalt Hold functions but rather hands-on flying throughout – that’s how real men fly aircraft! Give credit where credit’s due though – they have certainly improved of late.
Yes KLM had a monopoly, yes they were influenced by mainline KLM (thank heavens) but they installed most of the equipment – and the procedures to go with it – 15 years ago.
What staggers me most is that non-Europeans sort of look at UK and the like as revered centres of JAA excellence demanding lengthy training and high standards; and yet here we are saying that a UK operator skimps on sending pilots to the simulator ….. nigh on scandalous.