Simulator "nightmare" scenarios and tricks

[AnthonyGA]

I've heard from pilots in the past that simulator instructors like to spring unexpected situations on them and occasionally engage in other "tricks" to test their vigilance and ability to deal with the unanticipated. What sorts of situations do they come up with, and which are the most clever and/or effective, and what sort of justification do they usually provide for whatever they do? I understand that some scenarios must be practiced in the sim by pilots at regular minimum intervals, but from what I've heard there are occasionally other "tests" that go above and beyond the strictly necessary, such as nightmarish multiple-failure scenarios and the like.

On a related note, do pilots ever engage in competitions with simulators to see who can handle some specific situation the most skillfully, in the way that professional truckers sometimes compete to see who can park or maneuver a rig with the greatest precision, etc.? Or is that too expensive/frowned upon/considered immature?

[The AvgasDinosaur]

I believe a number of American airlines have used simulators to refly the Sioux City DC-10 crash scenario. No one has got as close as the originals to solving it.
Be lucky
David

[Mercenary Pilot]

No one has got as close as the originals to solving it.

Apart from Capt. Eric Genotte, F/O Steve Michielsen and F/E Mario Rafoil who actually managed to land thier A300 (OO-DLL) after losing all hydraulics due to a missile attack over Baghdad 2003 Baghdad shootdown incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Baghdad_DHL_shootdown_incident) :ok:

As for the original question, yes sometimes we will be exposed to multiple failures or very abnormal system operation. Often the most bizarre stuff is experienced after a Sim session has officially finished (In respect to the training syllabus) and there is a little time to spare. No point wasting paid-for simulator hours! :ok:

[st7860]

has anyone ever recreated the gimli glider in a simulator?

[Fliegenmong]

Quote -

Apart from Capt. Eric Genotte, F/O Steve Michielsen and F/E Mario Rafoil who actually managed to land thier A300 (OO-DLL) after losing all hydraulics due to a missile attack over Baghdad 2003 Baghdad shootdown incident

HHmm lets compare apples with apples eh? :rolleyes:

[Ace Rimmer]

Well I dunno I was told that the key to the A300 recovery was that Eric Genotte had seen a documnetary about Souix City and thottles only control and it was comparing these apples and oranges that seemed bring things to a happy conculsion (oh yeah and they did a go around) :D:D

who told me this?



Eric Genotte...guess he'd know

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Apart from Capt. Eric Genotte, F/O Steve Michielsen and F/E Mario Rafoil who actually managed to land thier A300 (OO-DLL) after losing all hydraulics due to a missile attack over Baghdad
I accept that theirs was an amazing achievement, others of a similar nature include BA 747 to Jakarta, Air Transat Airbus 330 to Lajes, Air Canada to Gimli, JAL B.747 tail loss. The point I tried to make was that in America they reuse the actual FDR data to program the simulator to refly the original Sioux City parameters as a CRM excercise. No crew has as yet as far as I am aware got as close as the original crew to successfully completing the flight/excercise.
Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.
Be lucky
David
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19890719-1
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830723-0
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19820624-0
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010824-1
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20031122-0
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850812-1

[Mercenary Pilot]

Spurred on mainly by the Sioux City crash, NASA developed a system that can actually trim thrust on an airliner and bring it into a controlled approach. Clever stuff :ok:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88794main_PCA.pdf

(oh yeah and they did a go around)

...and they were still on fire! :eek: :\