An upgrade course should have a 90% pass rate and if a candidate fails, it should be the INSTRUCTOR'S fault.
Well, that's pretty ignorant but nonetheless an increasingly popular sentiment. Sorry to tell you but there are people out there, even pilots who already in the right seat, who are not fit to be in the left seat - regardless of how much training they are given.
There are also FOs who might struggle to the standard but will always require a close eye. Is that fair? Do you want to ride in the back with him/her flying?
Most of the fails I've heard of lately have been known to be struggling on a good day or else just plain lazy.
early 70s airlines were putting 200 hour Draft Dodgers in the right seat of 707s and they did not have the problmes Emirates is having with the RJ pilots.
No shortage of crashes in the 707 days. Maybe the accident rate back then was what you call "no problems" but not many else would agree.
If they were smart enough to dodge the draft to a futile war, maybe they were smarter than your average RJ pilot and made it to the LHS on merit.
It's been pointed out that the RJ is just like a larger jet in every way except mass. If you're looking for a common link to explain the problems the RJ guys have, it might be time to consider their common background which is notable for slack SOPs, lack of adherence to procedures, cowboy attitude and poor quality RT... all of which we are now seeing at EK. They also all come from one continent. You may not find that palatable but there it is....
The disturbing news is, when they DO finally pass, they'll be instructors in SIX MONTHS.