Date: 201502
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Mission: Training
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Time Pressure
Anomaly: No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: I recently completed the B737 [recurrent training] event and feel it is necessary to point out the shortcomings in this fleet's recurrent training program.  The [maneuvers check] itself contains too many maneuvers to complete within the allotted time.  For example; despite taking a very short 5 minute break during the 4 hour sim period; we were barely able to complete the entire [check ride]; despite pushing quickly and successively through each required segment.  During the pre-brief; the [instructor] mentioned several times that there were many tasks to complete (both evaluation and train to proficiency) and that it has been a challenge to finish within the planned time.  At no time did either I or my sim partner require additional training; so that was not a contributing factor.  When we got to the Category (CAT) 3 approaches; the [instructor] pre- positioned us at 1000 feet on the ILS.  This did not permit completion of the Precision Approach Briefing Guide.  Day two was the [line-oriented training]; which was given in a [fixed base trainer].  This was the first time I have ever taken a [recurrent training] event in a non-motion simulator.  As usual; the [instructor] briefed that the event should occur in the same realistic way as any line flight; however; there were a few caveats.  First; the visual display is skewed for one of the pilots.  The [instructor] explained that only one pilot would have a visual that was the actual straight ahead view; while the other pilot's view would be skewed.  He also explained that he would move the view; as necessary; so the flying pilot had the accurately depicted view as it would exist if we were actually flying the airplane or full flight simulator.  Second; the FTD does not have the current ACARS 2.0 software loaded; but rather ACARS 1.0; which was phased out of the 737 fleet.  In addition; the ACARS printer does not work in this particular [fixed base trainer].  That would require the pilot who initiates ACARS requests to notify the [instructor] whenever initiating an ACARS request; so he could hand us the torn off slips of paper with ATIS/FWM/Takeoff Data; etc; etc.   I first noticed the skewed visual display during taxi out; as my right-side visual display appeared as if the aircraft was crabbed 30 degrees to the right.  This later became an issue during the crosswind landing; when the non-flying pilot could not effectively determine if the proper wind correction had been applied.  The ACARS requests were also a distraction; as we had to recall ACARS 1.0.After completion of the [line-oriented training]; the [instructor] offered to use the remaining device time to practice the engine failure on final approach maneuver.  After performing several of these; it became even more obvious that the use of a fixed base training device for [this training] is inadequate.  In closing; both days of training were disappointing from an expectation basis.  While the instructors provided quality training to the best of their abilities; the syllabus and [fixed base trainer] were substandard.  I respectfully request feedback from the fleet regarding the following questions:How does the fleet determine an adequate amount of simulator/device time is budgeted for completion of all the assigned tasks/maneuvers?Does the fleet have a quality control plan implemented through which it assesses [training] on a routine basis both for content and volume?  Is it the intent for the [line-oriented training] to be as realistic as possible for a line flight?  If so; how does the fleet expect the [line-oriented training] to be realistic if it is given in a device which does not closely replicate flying the actual airplane on the line?




Synopsis: B737 First Officer reported his concerns with what he sees as an inadequate recurrent training program at his airline.