Ty, based on your comments, are the American Airlines Pilots and the United pilots no good because they don't go through FSI for their training?
I was using FSI or Simuflite as a minimum, not a maximum. Simulator-based training is the name of the game. Operators that are too cheap to pay for this expense are what I was referring to.
Many companies have good inhouse training. Just because someone was trained by FSI or Simuflite, doesn't necessarilly make them better than someone trained in house. It depends on the quality of the training and the individual. In the past, I have had FSI grads who were very good and some who made each landing an adventure. And the same was true for the non-FSI pilots.
If the in-house training does not involve simulators, you're kidding yourself.
it sounds like you work for a corporate operator. In the air carrier world, we are required by regulation to have our own training program. We have had problems with FSI and Simuflite in getting them to train to our program, and we aren't the only operator having that problem. Many of us have aircraft that are way outside the FSI/Simuflite average aircraft. So we have to re-train these pilots to our aircraft.
If you read my profile, you would see that I am a past 91/135 Bizjet guy, and a present airline guy. I am familiar with air crarrier training, both as a PIC and SIC. My company trains using our instructors, in FSI Boeing simulators . . .
What I was saying in my post is that in the first 100 hours, a new jet pilot who has not been to simulator-based training should probably be flying only empty legs, until he demonstrates the ability to be ahead of the airplane and smooth on the controls, and not be too much of a distraction during critical phases of flight. That may come at 50 hours, and it may come at 150, but until I am comfortable with his skills, I ma going to use my discretion . . . because when all is said and done, if the passengers are uncomfortable with the flight, it will rest on my shoulders.
Now, at my (121) airline, for the first 100 hours, the FO has limitations on what he can fly . . . .
no X-wind greater than 15 kts, viz < 3/4 mile, no clutter, braking action less than good, LLWS, or special use airports.