No Aircraft
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Human Factors
Bottom line - the re-qualification training courses are unsafe and unacceptable for the timelines a pilot has been off the fleet and position. To be straight; many of us are appalled that the union; the company; and the FAA would have ever signed off on this. The rest of the pilots just do not know what they are in for yet.I have never needed any extra training time nor have I failed any checks in my XY-year career as a pilot. I made the mistake of trusting company judgement after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 when I was displaced off the X/Y fleet (FO) after only my second trip after IOE. I had less than XXX hrs on that fleet and position in those months. I then was able to bid back to it just under X years later. I was put through a 2-day sim refresher and a 3 day PC with 14 days of notice. It was totally inadequate and I had to put in a massive study effort with minimal sleep and still felt that it was all on my shoulders to spool up during that first few months after training. Now; years later; nothing has changed. I have now been surplussed from Captain's seat on the X/Y fleet. Even after X years as a Captain; I cannot hold any the left seat at any domicile on any equipment. I will be an FO once again after having already done that for over XZ years. I have been off the type FO position for over X years; and off the Z fleet Captain position for over X years. I have been assigned a re-qualification X course; which has been deemed as 'sufficient' training.Apparently; we also have made the mistake of assuming the industry has learned from the type situation and the egregious assumptions made that a bulletin and a video would be enough training for pilots to handle all the differences. Many of us are backsliding; taking double demotions in some cases; and some getting furloughed yet again. You are standing by the curriculum that pilots who have been off the jet for nearly five years; just need a quick refresher of a sim; then a PV; another sim; then an MV; and then a loft and an then an LOE. Just imagine doing that yourselves. Also; it is often the case that two FOs get assigned together; so we get even less training in those few days due to having to switch roles and seats.Any pilot off the seat and fleet for more than two years should have a full qualification course. Pilots between 12-24 months should have re-qualification Y; 6-12 months re-qualification X; and 3-6 months re-qualification Z. The alternatives will be pilots needing extra sims; having poor training record marks; failing checks; and not having the knowledge and skill they need restored to fly the line safely. There must be an understanding of both normal ops as well as emergencies. And all training should be to 'proficiency;' not just to 'demonstrated.'We cannot afford to have any incidents/accidents as we try to emerge from this horrible COVID-19 situation. We expect much more from the company; the union; and the FAA in helping to give us adequate training and the tools we need to do the best and safest flying we can; especially now with all of the distractions and pressures.
Air carrier Captain reported concerns with re-qualification training courses after not flying due to the COVID-19 pandemic.