For training, The sheer quantity of material one needs to know right off the top of their head is extensive.

There is very little guidance in regards to, what one needs to know and when. Those who are deliberate in their studies have been seeking advice from people in classes ahead of us as to what we should focus on. Captain upgrade and transition guys have commented on how good the training used to be.

It has really become a self study program with a very limited amount of oversight from the instructors. We haven't figured out if it is a cost issue, man power problem, leadership/mgmt problem or what. The truth is checkride failures have gone way up and I'm sure the higher ups are seeing a lot of $$$'s being flushed.

My advice for those who are just about to start class, find some one ahead of you in class and continue to ask them how much you should know and by what date.

There is a whole elephant to eat, but you gotta eat it one bite at a time.