Originally Posted by
misd-agin
Sims are fairly close to the real airplane but not exact. I think the sims are flown by CKA 2x(?) a year to verify that the 'feel' is similar to the real plane. Boeing 757 is the heaviest in the pitch. 767-300 is lightest. 737NG and 777 are somewhere in between. Heavy in pitch? I see 250 lbs (110 kg) guys flying with both hands and 105 lbs (50 kgs) women flying with one hand. Two hands is a unnecessary technique. Randomly it might be necessary, like a low altitude level off in a 757. The pitch force to counteract the thrust reduction is very high (30, 40, or more lbs of pull?)(tdracer might know the force).
There is a lot of confusion on just what a simulator simulates. The TDMs produce a device that matches the
OEM supplied data within defined tolerances and often this data is derived from engineering sources as opposed to real flight test data. The OEMs maintain that this engineering data is sufficient but there are many within the industry (including regulators) that do not totally concur with this approach!
Likewise the annual requalification checks by the regulatory authorities are equally misunderstood. The authorities are not there to "verify that the 'feel' is similar to the real plane" but to check the operators Compliance Monitoring System. Within the CMS there should be (typically) monthlu QTG checks, subjective fly out programs etc.. all to verify that the simulator still conforms to the test results from its initial qualification. In fact, there is no regulatory requirement for the authorities flight inspector to even be rated on that aircraft type and often he/she isn't!! (The NAAs rely on the operators to provide a type rated pilot to assist them during the evaluation.)
Having said this, control forces should be very representative of the aircraft being simulated and if they aren't then this should be written up for the operator to investigate and correct.