Some very pointed remarks and comments here without much real information. EK needs commanders but will not drop a basic standard. I agree it is not a memory test but F/O's about to very shortly be commanders need to know where the information is and who to call. At least 2 candidates failed 5 out of 6 basic questions. One could not even read a flight plan correctly. The interview is a confirmation of a place on the course and not a selection. The SFI fell embarassingly into the 'don't know' category raising serious doubts about his ability.
Outsourcing TRE and TRI training is for the core course. EK still trains and checks against an international standard, externally audited and government checked. Currently there are sufficient TRE's and TRI's except for July when there are 7 short for 2 weeks in the programme.
The pass rate on command courses is 82%, one of the highest in the longhaul industry. Everybody gets 2 go's. The trouble is, when a guy fails either a course, check or interview they tend to blame the system rather than themselves.
All DEC's (and EK are not actively seeking DEC's at the moment) have to pass an upgrade course session, 3 LOS and and LOE and be passed by a TRE competent. Their course is actually much harder than a F/O who then upgrades.