Centaurus
1st Sep 2003, 20:34
Most simulator sessions are four hours in the box. Some specific sequences when taken to their logical conclusion, can take half-an-hour of handling and associated reading of checklist while in holding patterns sorting out what to do etc.
Take for instance the 737 Manual Reversion. By the time the instructor sets the scene with gradual failure of the various hydraulics culminating in a full manual reversion, and the crew read the checklists pertinent to each hydraulic non-normal, brief each other, cover the weather, runway conditions, and final manual reversion checklist and so on, the crew are stuffed, time has flown, and they have yet to land the aircraft from a 10 mile final. Is this cost efficient use of a very expensive resource?
Providing the QRH sequence was adequately covered in the pre-flight briefing, would it not be more cost efficient to simply place the simulator (aircraft) at a five mile final (there is a button for this on the instructor panel) -then turn off all the hydraulics - and then simply go for it?
After all, in terms of the manual reversion, it is the physical handling of the flight controls and thrust which gives the crew the real value for money - not yards of checklist reading while flogging around a holding pattern. If for example the crew stuff up the handling and bust the aircraft due heavy landing while on manual reversion, a sympathetic and wise instructor will stick them back at five miles for another go at the approach and landing.
So why not do that in the first place. Saves money and time and allows more room for repeats where necessary - as well as giving more time for other sequences within the four hours.
Take for instance the 737 Manual Reversion. By the time the instructor sets the scene with gradual failure of the various hydraulics culminating in a full manual reversion, and the crew read the checklists pertinent to each hydraulic non-normal, brief each other, cover the weather, runway conditions, and final manual reversion checklist and so on, the crew are stuffed, time has flown, and they have yet to land the aircraft from a 10 mile final. Is this cost efficient use of a very expensive resource?
Providing the QRH sequence was adequately covered in the pre-flight briefing, would it not be more cost efficient to simply place the simulator (aircraft) at a five mile final (there is a button for this on the instructor panel) -then turn off all the hydraulics - and then simply go for it?
After all, in terms of the manual reversion, it is the physical handling of the flight controls and thrust which gives the crew the real value for money - not yards of checklist reading while flogging around a holding pattern. If for example the crew stuff up the handling and bust the aircraft due heavy landing while on manual reversion, a sympathetic and wise instructor will stick them back at five miles for another go at the approach and landing.
So why not do that in the first place. Saves money and time and allows more room for repeats where necessary - as well as giving more time for other sequences within the four hours.