I would like to add one comment to this, or in fact ask a simple question.
During the 12 year apprenticship that has been mentioned and the 60 odd sim checks, how many of these guys actually turn up to their check without a copy of the instructor notes and a few laps around the chosen airport in the IPT.
I believe it's a letdown of the current system where a pilot can obtain, in advance the majority of what will be expected of him throughout all aspects of checking within he airline, and then for the command course he is expected to be able to pull it all together with absolutely no heads up on what is coming.
I believe some really good, experienced operators have been let down by this exact scenario..
Just my opinion...