Their response was that they have to recreate an engine failure as closely as possible to the real thing
Not a multi FW rated guy, but any single engine work means keeping Vmca uppermost in mind. Manuals I've read suggest 5,000 as the minimum altitude for Vmca demonstration. Is that not telling us something with regard to single engine work? I'm fully aware of, and the necessity for, good training, but there must be a better way. Simulators are the only answer. Far too many folk have been lost practising this black art, some I know. Anyone practice bleeding?
Queen Air engine failure.