Let`s Benchmark upgrade:
EK : psychometric, command check flights as an FO, interview (40% fail) with chief pilot and HR (new since a year), tech exam, around 12 sim sessions, every session pass/fail, PAM markers 1-5; 5 =not given because to much work, 1 and 2= no good, 3 =below average, so only 4 is normal, an LOE, then two(!) final line checks. Half a year monitoring on line, early OPC/PPC.
KLM/AirFrance/Lufthansa (Over 75 years of experience)
Your number comes up, Operating manual exam (in case you miss you do it again after your linecheck!), around 14 sim sessions, exam, done.
Markers : standard, standard plus/minus. Excellent TRAINING.
the sense that the training department was there to TRAIN you than catch you out
On the nail!
There's an old British SAS saying "Train hard, Fight Easy". The same rules apply here chaps, the company doesn't owe you a command!!
Oblaaspop
that' exactly the medieval condescending SAS/RAF/military philosophy that has been critised and banned from civil aviation since CRM was invented. 'Going through the mud, like your brothers in arms, conquer and victory for queen an country' Haleluya! 'We are on (another) Imperial Mission to Trivandrum at 3 o'clock in the morning, bombs away!'
Try to rethink the training philosophy a bit, Oblaas, it's 2011.
Oh, and an upgrade is NOT a gift from the company, it's a basic right embedded in the contract you sign. Remember the EK road shows: 'A wonderful career is waiting for you!'