In 1990, several British glass-cockpit 737 captains were contracted to fly for Hapag Lloyd and based in Hamburg. The reason was a rapid expansion by H/L with new 737-400/500's and their first officers didn't have the minimum hours for command training.
As part of the interview process we were assessed by the chief pilot in a 737 simulator. The test included timed climbing and descending turns at Vref flap 40 at set rates of climb and descent - as well as clean steep turns. This was all done raw data and manual throttle and was certainly a very good exercise in basic instrument flying ability. It was similar to the Pattern D exercise in the old D4 Link Trainer.
It was immediately apparent that those current on raw data flying (whether through choice or previous company SOP) showed up well. Others steeped in automation had significant problems once the flight directors were off and were lucky to just scrape through the simulator assessment. The chief pilot's reason for those raw data exercises was that in his opinion, it gave him an idea who could really fly the aeroplane as against those pilots who were more or less tied to automatics flying.
Last edited by A37575; 24th Mar 2013 at 12:11.