It is being reported that the Capt of the mishap Ethiopian 737 did not train on a MAX simulator. Thought I'd address that.
Since the MAX is certified on the same original (1960s ?) 737 certificate, to be qualified on the plane you only need what is called "differences" training. And that doesn't require any sim flying. AA doesn't even own a MAX simulator, something the union has been bitching about.
In this case, the symptoms of the assumed failure are exactly like ordinary runaway trim. The procedure to follow is the same regardless of the failure, treat the symptom presented. That procedure does not differ from -300 to -800 to MAX 8. So, a non MAX simulator is not required to effectively train for the eventuality of a MCAS failure.
The press will make the lack of MAX sim training a critical training failure. But in the case of the apparent MCAS failures presented, it would not have mattered.