During the early days of airline flight training, there were no simulators like the ones we see today. Training was done in the aircraft. There was a powerful incentive to do well, as no one wanted to crash the airplane. There was also a tendency to not get too close to the edge of the aircraft envelope.
Ground school at major Airlines was very demanding; The instructor would place two three-inch binders in front of each new hire and state, “Have these memorized within two weeks.” During the oral exam, pilots were expected to draw every system on the blackboard and be ready to explain how each system worked, including limitations, pressures, temperatures, and voltages. The training was a very adversarial experience, with instructors always trying to “stump the chump” in an everlasting game of “You bet your Job.” The trainees worked hard to ensure they were prepared for the check ride after six simulator periods. During the final training event, If a trainee was good, the instructor would often keep loading the trainee until the aircraft was barely flyable. If the trainee kept the aircraft flying, the sixth simulator would often be considered a successful check ride. It was a badge of honor for a pilot to say, “ I completed six sims.”
Safety of flight is a non-negotiable item in training. Training and checking, however, does not have to be adversarial and can be just as much fun as flying the line. Pilots should look forward to training events.
Instructors need to look through the eyes of the average line pilot and ask themselves, “What can I do to make pilots want to operate the aircraft by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)?” Instructors should explain why procedures are in place. Many procedures have been written with blood on bent aluminum.