Originally Posted by
Micheal_A
I managed to speak to one of the instructors who conducted my lesson ( i had a total of 3) and he did make me aware my knowledge was poor on the systems to which i am aware and acknowledged, he suggested spending some time on fcom/fctm and general system knowledge using such materials such as youtube, he also suggested that maybe the previous instructor who originally conducted my training may have been too lenient in passing me to get this far to which I debate, i agree my knowledge is poor but I did my level best at each sessions up and until the end and managed to do the lesson tasks/objectives eg ILS approach/ UPRT recovery etc,
Also I wanted to state that, which person at a novice stage knows the full airbus system, again i did not wish to argue but wanted to seek knowledge/advice on how to overcome this hurdle and finish my training, he did say if he was my original instructor and if did not know the basics as in the stage at where i was he would have not let me continue until i demonstrated a standard of understanding , he also stated that before i make any rash decisions in terms of continuing the training spend 2-3 months studying and then start the type rating again, to which i said i would do the actions he asked, thus any websites or apps/ external materials or books can anyone suggest to get my understanding to a standard of level?
I am comfortable with the flows/ flight profiles but agree i have not studied or practised with my sim partner during my time at the type rating, I am going to take time out to study as much as i can but i feel like its a question when asking how long is a piece of string, in terms of test questions any websites or apps i can use?
I have had time to reflect on my mistakes and my weaknesses to which i admit but at the same time i feel angry to be at the stage i am, again I know this path is not easy and the type rating can be done with the right mind set and focus...
It feels embarrassing to be at this stage , I mean I have not come across many or other students in my shoes, I have heard of students repeating lessons etc but for the training to be terminated is a real kick in the teeth and to do it all again at my own expense is worrying but I feel I can do this with the right mind set and focus and support...
First thing is you’ve got advice from a number of people here, to the point your head might explode. Don’t try and do everything everyone says, take a few nuggets from each.
You don’t need to be able to draw the entire schematics of every part of the 320, very few training captains could on the spot. But you need to know roughly what the stuff does, not necessarily how to do it.
You want specific material - look up ‘A320 podcast’. A phenomenal back catalogue of material designed for people just like you, learning the type. I still use it after being on it years and jumping seat, it’s designed for all of that. Very accessible 20 minute odd episodes designed to demystify. They do a subject area each episode. Yes it’s ‘not approved’, but it’s made by trainers and it’s very good, there’s a limit to how pedantic you can be with ‘approved’ material. The biro you use in the flight deck isn’t ‘approved’ etc…
I wouldn’t think you’d need 2 to 3 months, the tech section is usually only 2 weeks long anyway. Maybe take a month off. First week do very little, then hammer it for the last three weeks. And by hammer it I mean hammer it. You should know the sim profiles in your sleep having had 12 pints on a big night out. They need to be absolutely second nature. All of them.
Being blunt I think you just didn’t put enough work in the first time, a lack of knowledge rather than lack of skill is the symptom of that. I also suspect you genuinely didn’t know how much work you’d have to put in, and to be fair for a first rating why would you.
Are you staying in a hotel near the sim centre? If not do so, if you’ve got kids they’re getting parked for 6 weeks of the course (sorry). This is possibly your last chance to pass the rating and get employed by this carrier. Mess this up and that could be it for your career. Yes that’s the hard truth, but you need to just write off the next couple of months and in return you’ll get a 30 year plus dying career as payback. You need to be with your sim partner for hours a day. Every. Single. Day. You don’t get days off on the course.
Personally I think you ought to be okay, you’ve presumably passed a single pilot ME/IR, that’s far harder than airline flying.
PM me if you want any more thoughts, equally reply here and everyone gets the benefit. Good luck!