Here's my perspective, although not 737-specific:

For the relatively new guys: the largely-empty second floor at TK used to be the self-study Library. It was full of cubicles for watching the endless array of tape and slide shows (yes), using headphones devised by Machiavelli and Craftsman. It was narrated by a Jeppeson guy named "Archie;" he was the same narrator I heard in countless Air Force tutorials!!

My 727 Initial was classroom, self-study in the CBT modules, a "Master Question File" with about 3-400 questions you should know for the airplane (very similar to what we had in the Air Force), and an optional afternoon review session.

It was extremely effective. The voluntary reviews were usually packed, guys asked pertinent questions, and the instructors gave the missing pieces that were elusive.

My 747-400, 777, and A-320 courses were similar, although afternoon reviews were smaller or non-existent.

After many years of furlough and mil-leave, I came back to a much different training department.

Classroom academics were minimal, and did nothing to prepare me for my first sim.

The Master Question File was a mix of the CAL and UA 757/767 fleets (I was on the CAL side at the time), and none of us knew which airplane the questions related to....if at all.

The syllabus materials, which always rivalled the Air Force in quality of professional production, were haphazard, and in some cases, hand-written.

While afternoon reviews were advertised, I never actually saw one.

Result: the worst training I ever had at United, which prior to, had been equal to the best I had seen. It was as self-taught as you are discussing for the 737.

My point:

ALL of the changes in training were driven by a corporate push to "Reduce training costs." They shortened most of the courses (not just the 737), and shuffled events around to fit the schedule...but not necessarily the logical sequence for learning.

This meant you could get a guy out the door sooner (and cheaper), but it would cost far more when he hit the line for OE....because it took extra rides.

Don't turn this into an "us vs them" discussion. I did training in the north and south. And, I didn't mind the south facility, either. I'd say it was driven more by the corporate cheapening, and the relative lack of "Crosstalk" that could occur in the north. The various fleets there could exchange ideas and solutions for problems. The south used to be two fleets, and is now one. (I think...isn't the 787 at TK?)

I had good PIs at both locations.

I believe the training has started to move in the right direction, though. If I'm not mistaken, some courses HAVE been lengthened. I know there is finally an up to date 756 MQF---I've found it very valuable since we combined the fleets and I theoretically fly 5 different types. A friend of mine at TK has said some positive things about what they are trying to do for training.

I hope the "Library" at TK gets put back to good use, instead of the tiny little CBT room they have. It would be nice if the programs themselves were updated. And I'd love to see real afternoon reviews again. Real learning, not just conditioned responses.

But they had to do something. Because I thought it was difficult after having already done it before. I thought "If it's this difficult when you've already had some experience with it...what would it be like as a new-hire?"

I worry about that.