I had a similar experience to the OP on the CRJ. My sim partner didn’t make it through systems and I struggled. Call outs are hard to practice on your own and others were busy practicing with their sim partners. I observed others sim sessions that were much smoother than mine. I had a different instructor every day so poor continuity. Had the late sim session 8pm to 2 am which was tiring since noise in the hotel started at 6 am and sleep was difficult. Not having a sim partner meant not watching someone else go through the maneuvers to learn from their mistakes. Ended up using up my extra sim sessions and made dumb mistakes in the Manevers Validation so was told by the examiner I should be good with a training session then retest. I got a call from the training manager and he said I used up my sessions so it was the end of the line. Was told I should come back in 6 mos because I was really close and was the kind of person they wanted at SW. Most of my instructors were great, one was terrible and I had the examiner that was the gossip at the water cooler as the toughest. I’m not one to make excuses and I studied my butt off but couldn’t pull it off. Undecided if I will return at SW.

 

Industry leading? Is the training, train to proficiency? Is there the ability to get a different instructor? Is there the ability for a union rep to observe a training session? Is there a training review board? Those are all things that are standard at most unionized airlines.

 

Funny how everything with you ends up a big union endorsement.

I was talking about training quality - not union remedies.

There are plenty of union carriers out there with a sterling program - XJT probably being the leader in that camp. So folks have option.

TFAYD

 

Is there a writeup/gouge of what the maneuvers validation is like?
I.e engine failures and other basic procedures?

 

Yes. You cover every single maneuver in training sessions before taking the maneuvers validation. No surprises.

 

Sorry to hear.. but you said only 1 extra session? You get 8 hrs extra... not just one session.. i hope you either find a good home elsewhere or you come back. They have hired a whole bunch of new sim instructor and a new training manager. I had a freind in that same boat. He came back and is glad he did..

 

This made me laugh

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I actually used up my extra sessions. I really did enjoy the whole experience even though I wasn’t able to finish. I made some great friends and most of the instructors were fantastic. My flows and callouts were a little behind. Everything “clicked” for me but it happened just a little too late. I put a business and family life on hold to do this and have to evaluate whether I want to do it again. I love to fly and may look for a local gig or something else on the west coast. I have no regrets for the time I spent at SW and would consider giving it another shot. A friend just got through E175 training and is enjoying it and telling me I should come back😁

 

Curious, what was your aviation background?

 

This was in part why our pay rose mid agreement while classes were full. We now have people here who should never have made it through training.