I think it is worth considering the fleet differences with regards to command upgrades.
The 744 is NOT an upgrade (on the pax) fleet. Most of the training is for candidates who are already Cx captains and senior F.O.s. This is the yardstick on which 744F pilots are trained at Cx. These same guys are flying longhaul routes to the USA and back, jump in to regional flights in a pax aircraft (last flown in their line training and are critcised for their ability to interpret Thai controllers!!!) Compare that to a typical pax fleet trainees converting from one of the regional fleets. Give them a break!
A number of freighter only trainers feel that it is there role in life to be more painful than the pax fleet trainers in order to prove that they too have high standards. Perhaps this is a carry over that they have had to live with after joining ASL and being unreasonably checked by disgruntled Pax fleet guys.
All in all their appears to be very little training, weakness are not addressed with training solutions.
That said I think the above only really applies to a small number (some put it as high as 25%) of the trainers, everyone knows who they are and if it is they with whom you are rostered.... its all over.
This is my conclusion, and there is no doubt that there is an anti NA bias. It is stated a number of times to a whole course 'You NA guys are going to struggle.....' From my experience these guys are of the same standard of anyone else in the company and a damn site better than me!
These are just my thoughts after sometime on the 744F.
