You were more focused in the individual "hitting the books". I am factually stating that while self study is important, in the 121 world today, at most places, you are graded more on your CRM skills. So study what you need for the oral/test, then focus on the big picture of what you will need to pass. You will need to have good CRM skills to pass.
You were missing that point and it was important to state.
Of course it's important to state. But it's also an assumed too. Gonna fly a crew aircraft, it certainly isn't done single pilot. However, what each pilot brings to the concept of CRM, will determine the effectiveness
of that CRM. One guy cannot be carrying the other. And without a baseline of knowledge, ability, SA, hands, and a host of other
prerequisites to good CRM, then it's one guy carrying the other in a too-unbalanced way. Sure, crews rely on one another here and there for things, lean on one other's strengths; but the difference between the two persons in terms of their standardization, shouldn't be that different at all. And each brings their own minimal baseline of ability to the game, or at least they should. Training should build on those abilities, while teaching new ones. And by and large, training departments seem to do that well. But the training department can only lift a guy up so much, and keep extra-training a guy who isn't, for whatever reason, progressing at a rate they need him to.
I'm not being arrogant. I am trying to provide some corrections to what you are saying. For example, when you stated, "let your grade book do the talking", in the 121 environment it is usually pass/fail. You are trying to get through training as a group, not rank higher than your squadron mates to get the F-22 slot over the drone slot.
I'm using a figure of speech. Let me explain (all you had to do was ask):
"Your gradebook graduates" has nothing to do with individual class ranking, that's a separate entity. That phrase refers to "....it doesn't matter how well you personally thought you have done in training, or what anyone thinks of you as a person. ALL that matters when it comes to pass/fail, is what your gradebook and gradesheets say." IE- your records are what passes or fails, not necessarily you as a person. The gradebook, gradesheets, records, whatever you want to call it......is what stays with you and all anyone cares about when making a determination of whether you stay or go. That's the context Im referring to.
In the military, you have to pass flight training first and foremost; then from that, rankings come for assignments. I was referring to the former, not the latter, using that phrase.
I wasn't preaching to you about how it is done in the military. I was saying that on the civilian side we are graded differently than in the military and we have different focuses on the 121 side you may not be familiar (like I'm not familiar) with the emphasizes on the military side.
I feel you were downplaying greatly in your posts the emphasis on CRM. I wanted to bring another side to your conversation.
CRM is hugely important, I fully agree. I basically hadn't gotten to that point yet, and of course it's just as important as the basics, and even moreso following the basics because without the basics, there's no CRM; and without CRM, there's no flight. It just won't happen these days......the days of dictator Capt long gone, at least in western countries.
But it is important the right things are focused on.
Then why weren't you talking about the crew concept in any of your posts until I brought it up? Once again there is a huge emphasis on CRM during 121 training, yet it wasn't brought up? Why?
As I said, without the basics down pat and understood, you'll only be a detriment to any follow-on phases, CRM included. That doesn't lessen the importance of CRM, but you have to crawl before you walk. To a student who hasn't even gotten past the crawl stage with his career desires, I wasn't going to start getting into techniques on running. That comes in short order.
Of course one needs to be prepared for both. I never said one doesn't need to be focus in a particular area. I'm just pointing it out as a higher place of emphasis than you were.
It is all encompassing to be able to manage the flight, which is 99.99999% good CRM skills.
Which brings me to this point....
In the training environment (I was a Check Airman at Colgan) those with good CRM usually have no problem on individual skills. While those that have trouble with CRM have individual skill issues as well. I think that goes to a lack of an ability to manage the flight and task manage.
They're both necessary. And both affect CRM, I fully agree.
As I said, you don't want the weak knowledge/ability person in the cockpit to where one pilot or another is carrying the weight of general knowledge for the other person (especially in an emergency). CRM is then adversely affected.
At the same time, you don't want someone who is lousy at CRM for whatever reason......doesn't click, doesn't care, doesn't listen, isn't paying attention, or a host of other issues.......because CRM is again adversely affected.
So yes, CRM was never downplayed as unimportant in any way. I was speaking to a primary audience however. So CRM is indeed noted as well.