“There is a tendancy <sic> to blame one area, and say fix it.”
Let's step back one pace and divide it into “Us” and “Them”, which fundamentally means “Candidate” or “System”, then apply tags to the examples you gave;
Is training to blame? - System
Is checking to blame? - System
Is the review process to blame? - System
Is seniority to blame? - System
Are type differences to blame? - System
Is lack of funds and resources to blame? - System
Should the candidate carry some of the blame? - Candidate
Is management to blame? - System
Are outdated techniques to blame? - System
Is 10 years too long, making the candidates stale by that time? - System
Is 10 years too short? - System
Should 12 months on type as an FO be a min requirement for command? - System
Are home pressures caused by COS issues to blame? – Whole different thread
Are company expectations too high? Too low? – System
Now using the examples you gave, (and tell me if you disagree with any of my assessments) where do you think the solution lies?
Clearly the majority of the issues are systemic, but generally the training system bears the brunt.
“I used to hate the retread style question too.The 2 reasons you offer are both off the mark. They dont give a stuff if you know the answer, they want to see how you answer the question. They want to know if your ego can allow you to be taught, and you know guys who suffer from this. They want to know if you can handle being wrong, they want to want to know if you are open to learn new things without getting deffensive, or so wound up in a fit of rage that it effects the rest of the trip? It honestly happens. It reflects on how they will listen to other members of their crew in a non normal situation. They are looking for those key indicators that they want to see in a commander. The specifics of this one is obvious. If a crew member that they dont particularly like has the answer to solve a problem, will this person listen to them, or will they alienate them from the crew? If you come off cold and defensive towards a check captain when asked something so simple, and people do, then you will probably treat your FO or SO the same or worse. Do you see it? So how do you handle it? Whats wrong with, "Really? I havent been shown that before." Honestly, they dont give a "Flick" about retreads either.”
Great technique if used correctly, I see your point, and perhaps you may do it that way. To counter your point would this mean that if one particular checker asked the same candidate more than one of these inane questions during a check that he may be over-assessing the trainees ability in this aspect of communication ability? (It is overall a somewhat subjective manner to poorly assess a communication trait)
I have been witness to one checker in a space of about 10 minutes asking four of these, what I consider, time wasters. End result, candidate unnerved, negative learning, somewhat chilled environment. Mission accomplished? I think not.
And finally, a couple of questions that you left unanswered from my previous post…
“Go and look at the PPrune forums for other regions/airlines. By comparison how frequently does CX training rate a mention? Why does it feature so much more in the Fragrant Harbour?
Why is it that a significant number from all steps of life/experience levels/regions take issue with the training in CX? Irrespective of whether the person is a doogie howser who joined as an S/O and now has 6,7,8 years in CX, a Nth American freighter F/O with previous wide body time, or a European F/O who came from the military, most will give a wry smile when speaking of CX “Training” Why is that?
'Why does CX have a comparatively high failure rate when compared to other airlines?”