Simulator assessment - a matter of personal opinion
Circling approach in simulator. Due to simulator visual display cut-off limitations, the turn to base and final is done using MAP mode until half way around final when the runway comes into view. In other words, the turn is on instrument indications and not physically looking outside as you would be doing in a real thing.
Within about 20 degrees from the extended centre-line the PAPI now appears through the visual display and indicates aircraft is high (all whites). The runway is sea level and length 3500 metres; more than enough for jet transports. The pilot has to make up his mind. He can choose to go-around because without becoming unstable he cannot increase rate of descent to get back on the PAPI visual 3 degree slope.
Or, he can judge the aircraft can land safely further in to the runway within normal stable approach parameters. He chooses the latter and touches down 1000 metres in from the landing threshold with literally a mile of runway remaining when he stops with normal braking.
The simulator instructor gives him a FAIL because in the instructors opinion the pilot should have gone around again because he was too high to be stable by 500 ft. Yet the pilot did conduct a stable approach to touch-down and well within the landing distance available.
The basic cause of the high approach was the lack of simulator visual fidelity in the first place placing the pilot in an invidious position where to play the game the base and final turn was made using instrument flying and navigation displays instead of visual flying.
Comments appreciated.