Thrust Lever Blocked In The Sim
Our instructors like to give the thrust lever blocked in the sim, for example after an intermediate level off in the climb.
That's in a 737 but the discussion applies to all twins.
Problem is they encourage "bringing the airplane home" with an N1 of 60% on one engine.
I strongly disagree with this interpretation.
They haven't understood the rules of the game.
On a twin, we MUST expect a major malfunction of an engine, and be able to FLY on the remaining engine, that means being able to maintain level flight at least 1500ft above the airport we are diverting to.
My objection is this: if the good engine fails, you won't be able to FLY with an N1 of only 60% (unless you are very very light, but you can't really know).
They try to use the assumption that you cannot have two major malfunctions, like two engine failures.
We can consider the blockage of the thrust lever as a major malfunction, they say, so we bring the airplane home because we assume the other engine will not fail.
Well, all this math is WRONG.
A little boring to explain, but very logycal:
- If you assume the major malfunction has already happened, the rule of the game is to land ASAP.
You cannot continue to climb and bring the airplane home.
- If you assume the blockage NOT to be a major malfunction, then you must assume the major malfunction can still happen afterwards.
And in this case also you cannot continue to climb and bring the airplane home, as if the good engine fails, the other one stuck at 60% will not be sufficient to guarantee a level flight capability over any airport.
Boring enough?
Well, my conclusion is: if this happens, ask yourself: "If the other engine fails, will I be able to FLY?"
If not sure, land ASAP, don't bring the airplane home!!
LEM