Very VERY Bad Sim Nerves

[countdechickens]

Not so much sim, but Command Assessment.

They say that a problem shared is a problem halved, especially if someone has a solution.

Having recently flunked another Command Assessment sim through crushing nerves and brain shutdown, I was wondering if anybody else has found a coping tactic for such trying times. Of course, sim nerves are something we all suffer from I would imagine, and in a normal base check and line check this has not been a problem, with my reports being ‘A+’ and trainers writing ‘ready for Command’. Even in real life threatening situations I have not come close to ‘locking up’, quite the opposite.
The stress of a promotion sim session feels totally different and has me a gibbering wreck. I read the words on the flight manual pages but they don’t make sense anymore. I can’t see the wood for the trees and make stupid decisions.
I can’t help piling the stress on myself, thinking about how the extra money could help my family and my children constantly asking ‘when are you going to be a Captain again dad’. My self esteem is through the floor. I fail before I get anywhere near the sim. Every time this happens the mountain just gets bigger. Having given up a command on a turboprop to join my current company, this is even more frustrating. The Trainers response is basically ‘tough, you’ll have to get over it’ and I see their point.

Being a ‘nuts n bolts’ type guy, the thought of yoga, homeopathy or hypnotherapy leaves me cold. Likewise ‘real’ drugs are out of the question, so what does that leave?
Has anyone else been here? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Why do we need another test anyway when the training department agrees your ready?

Don’t worry, I’m not about to top myself. Ill have a few beers and bounce back in a day or two.

Still counting chickens.

[QDMQDMQDM]

Find yourself a really good psychologist with a special interest in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Perhaps a psychologist who specialises in helping sportsmen overcome similar sorts of problems would be the ticket. This is no different to a top-class athelete feeling stressed out before the Olympics or the US Open. The golf guys go through this all the time.

This is a very common problem and can be helped remarkably easily through the application of some very pragmatic cognitive behavioural techniques which you can do yourself. We're not talking major psychotherapy or drugs here, just simple, useful stuff.

That would be my first port of call.

Good luck!

QDM

[countdechickens]

There must have been many studies done on Valium. Has it been shown to degrade coordination and decision making?
My wife popped a half before a driving test. She passed the test but didn’t feel safe to drive home after due to feeling ‘drunk’.
I guess if the negative effect is less than the Anxiety you end up better off.
Still not at all keen to take mind altering substances, except the odd Speckled Hen.


Looking into CBT. Cheers guys.

[keithl]

It depends, of course, on your personality, but two general approaches I know work for the right type. One is to be very angry! Not so it affects your attitude to your co-pilot in the sim, but a cold "I'll show the pompous bastards" attitude to the assessors. The other to convince yourself that you don't really care and didn'y want the command in the first place. Much harder to do, but it worked for me once when I was in such despair over my chances that it was too much trouble to worry about it!

[QDMQDMQDM]

Yep, I'd steer clear of valium for three reasons.

1. It will degrade your responses.

2. If it got found out, what kind of message does that send about your fitness for command? 'When gets stressed out, resorts to tranquilisers.'

3. It's not the most effective solution anyway.

[beamer]

1. The vast majority of pilots do not relsih the propspect of a ride in the simulator. Why - simply because you are being assessed and are required to perform to a certain standard in order to retain the 'privilages' of your licence. Regardless of how enlightened your training department - bottom line remains that you have to reach a required level of competancy.

2. If you are able to reach above average standard in the rhs you should in turn be able to translate that ability in the lhs - the flying is the same but what matters now is your capability to demonstrate your command potential when the buck stops with
your good self.

3. Every company will have co-pilots who whilst able to perform to a good standard both in the sim and in the air are nonetheless unable to make that transition to the lhs. Furthermore every company will have pilots who get seriously stressed when going into the simulator which sadly results in them underperforming. It is a hard fact that such individuals are
probably not suited to command and it could be argued that they
should not actually be flying commercial aircraft.

4. So what is the solution ? Not valium or indeed any other drug for reasons already expressed in this thread. It would be glib and
patronizing to say ' get a grip' so lets not head in that direction.
Perhaps a quiet talk to colleagues who have already achieved commands with your company or indeed a chat with a 'friendly' training captain away from the simulator.

At the end of the day, its down to you - take a break, have a beer and think long and hard about where you want to go in this
business - if you want it enough, you'll hack it............

Incidentally - remember that to be a good pilot you don't have to be a great pilot - a command course is not looking for you to be ace of the base, just capable of being in charge of a commercial aircraft and doing so safely.

[QDMQDMQDM]

every company will have pilots who get seriously stressed when going into the simulator which sadly results in them underperforming. It is a hard fact that such individuals are probably not suited to command and it could be argued that they
should not actually be flying commercial aircraft

He has said that usually he doesn't have a problem in the sim, but with the prospect of command in the offing he finds the stress very hard to deal with. This situation is a one-off, the culmination of a career and the pressures are extraordinary. I don't think it has implications for general fitness for flying and the suggestion that it has simply piles on the pressure.

QDM

[beamer]

QDM

Difficult to relate to because neither of us knows the individual concerned. However, in these days of automation we are to an extent paid because we are able to cope with pressure situations which to a certain degree are replicated in the simulator. We are required to demonstrate that we can handle a situation under pressure - an inability to do so upon a command assessment simulator does not bode well for the future regardless of previous performance as co-pilot. Hopefully the individual concerned will be able to sort himself out and progress in his company but it is a fact of life and of this business that
'hard rules' will come into play sooner or later.

I fly with some first officers who are extremely competent in their positions but nonetheless seem to get over stressed in the simulator and this in a Company whose training has greatly improved over the last few years - more training, less testing etc.

Certainly if the originator has turboprop command time he should be able to cope with the requirements of command assessment in his new company. It may be of course that he has had no great
exposure to simulators in the past and as such cannot yet quite accept that the sim is only a means and not an end in itself.

Countdechickens - have that beer and good luck..........

[chox]

I dont know Beamer but he has good advise.Next thread will be from Captain Countdechickens............Best O luck

[countdechickens]

Some more details then.

I had a Command for several years with a freight outfit on turboprops. Night freight over northern Europe in winter was a far more difficult environment to operate in than this cocooned jet life. Weather was always an issue with frequent go-arounds and diversions. Delays incurred heavy penalty clauses. The vintage aircraft always had several tech items. Also, ops was manned by a school boy, so you were truly on your own. (come to think of it, no change there)

I revelled in this environment.

Going back even further to early 80’s I was a microlight test pilot. If I was ever going to lock up or panic I would have found out then, many times over.

But give me a chance at getting back my missing stripe in the dreaded simulator with the much missed self esteem and much needed dosh, I will self destruct. Its tangible and real. I know pressing that button is a really really bad idea but I do it. This is a totally different feeling than I have ever had in an aircraft, or for that matter anywhere else in life.
Very strange.

But thanks for the free counselling session guys. (well some of you)

[kabz]

Man, you really have my sympathy. Yesterday saw me sitting my commercial multi ride, legs shaking like hell as I started up the twin. It was also freezing cold and windy as hell, so that didn't help. I just got laid off finally the other day, so am hoping that I can make a new living/existence from flying.

I'd be really interested if people have any ways to deal with this. I was hoping I left the worst of my nerves behind me on my private and to a lesser extent instrument ride.

On the ride itself my flying was about 30 % below my usual, so safe, but pretty scrappy on the airwork. Enough to get credit, but we ended up discontinuing it due to high winds.

Anyone else have these kinda problems ? And any more tips to help us out with these checkride nerves?

[Clear_Prop]

Countdechickens:

I'm not actually a professional pilot, but I understand the basics of the problem you are going through, because I have a reasonable background in business; and subsequently an appreciation of the issues faced by people in similar situations to yours.

Somebody mentioned previously the comparison between your scenario and the sort of situation that professional sports people find themselves in; and also suggested that you try to get some advice from a pshychotherapist in that field. I would strongly agree with that view. If your employer has an occupational therapist on hand that you can talk to off record, go and see them as a starting point.

The same psychological 'trap' is faced by performers - actors, musicians, public speakers, etc.; and the solution is to change the way you visualise the situation. Common with the dreaded 'job interview' it is quite likely (and understandable) that you are preoccupying your mind with the "success/no success" element of the exercise. This stops you focussing on normal tasks and leads to panic/nerves. You need to break this train of thought and just concentrate on doing the job in hand. You need to program your mind to realise that you are not being assessed on your ability to determine whether your performance is good enough - because somebody else is doing that for you anyway. All that is required of you is to do 'your job' in the simulator, nothing more can be asked of you.

I know that may sound incredibly elimentary, or even illicit the 'easier said than done, mate' type of response, but there are some fairly simple mental exercises you can do to get over that phobia in a matter of weeks; and a professional in the field is the best place to get that advice.

Good Luck!

[High Volt]

CDC

I haven't got to the CAE stage just yet but I do know the effect it can have given the stressfull "bottleneck" it creates in your career. I think that any advice regarding drugs or psychiatric help is a distraction by way of unhelpfull complication. You're not the only bloke who finds this a big deal and you want to talk to a few trusted muckers over a beer not somebody who does not fly for a living.

Personally I would cope with the situation with a thorough blast of book revision (detail) moving through to some armchair profile revision (less detail) and for the week before, a couple of flights, some normal family life and some beer!

An acceptance of a realistic perception that you can only do your best and that this will probably be directly proportional to your state of relaxation (easier said than done) is the key. At the end of the day you have to have a F**k 'em attitude and realise that it's only a job.

Keep it simple stupid.

:ok:

[beamer]

CDC

Hope I don't fall into the unhelpful category - certainly not meant that way. Whilst retaining anonymity(spelling ?) it would be interesting to know if you used sims in turboprop days - how large an aircraft the vintage kit was and what size of aircraft you are now operating.

One thing I do know is that gaining a command is my Company - 350 pilots - is more difficult than it was and this is just a question of demand and supply. Somethimes the goalposts are moved depending upon how many new Captains are needed.

Again - have a beer and the best of luck.

[fernytickles]

CDC

Having read all the comments on this thread, including your response, and some which seem to me to be not very positive, (but thats all down to personal perception), I felt compelled to add my tuppeny worth. Whether or not it will help, I have no idea, but here goes....

Some of the words you used in your initial posting reminded me of that very honest article in the Log some years back, written by a pilot whose successful career had sadly descended into an broken, alcoholic haze. One of his thoughts behind why that had happened was that he had not faced up to the pressures that he was under, taking the 'sweep it under the carpet and pretend its not there' approach. I am not suggesting that this is what will happen to you, of course. On the contrary, I feel that by acknowledging your worries, and rationalising them you have already put the vital break in the chain of events that could lead to such a situation, and are already on the road to being able to deal with your problem, whether you feel like it or not! That in itself is a great step forward. There's not many folk who go to the dreaded sim with not a care in the world, and there's a lot of folk who manage to hide that worry.

I have a very good friend who retired from flying some years ago, and his favourite line is that he can't believe he managed to get through nearly half a century of flying without anyone realising how little he knew. He is one of the wisest pilots I have ever flown with, and was absolutely terrified of the 6 month sim check, even on his very last one.

Whichever method of dealing with your problem, from all the ones suggested here, you decide choose, I think there will be more than one pilot who is relieved to read that they are not the only person who is terrified of the possibility of failure in such a pressured environment, and will silently thank you for having the courage to speak up.

Good luck with the sim check - when I did my command assessment I answered every single technical question about the aircraft incorrectly, but, thanks to not unsympathetic assessors, made it through the training just fine. Like you I can do the job with no problem, and have had the odd emergency on the way which has proved just that, but show me an exam and I go all jelly-like - its really frustrating!
:\

Just another quick thought - how about beta blockers? I know nothing about them but do know that some people have used them for job sim checks, and got the job. I get very sick in the sim and always took stugeron as a preventative. The trainers knew (probably pretty relieved too!) and no one ever suggested that it would affect my performance, either in the sim or on the line.

[gingernut]

Countdechickens, sorry to hear that you are having problems.

Here's the science behind the situation:

Your sympathetic nervous system is preparing your body for battle, because it has been told by the brain, that it is about to prepare for battle.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system releases hormones from the adrenal gland which set in motion physiological responses, which usually have the following effects;

dilated pupils, increased heart rate, blood pressure increase, increase in depth and rate of respiration, increased blood flow to the muscles andskin, decrease in digestive activity.

All these effects are very useful, if fighting or fleeing a mammoth, ((as your body is designed to do), but not that useful if trapped in a simulator. In fact there are so many chemicals flowing around your system, that the response is actually working against you.- its even stopping you reading and thinking correctly.

When I was learning to fly, the so called fight or flight mechanism actually reduced my peripheral vision on landing. (Not at all useful).

The problem worsens, as there is no useful outlet for your response, the mind worries more, so more chemicals are released, and the whole thing escelates.

The good news is that you are not going mad, in fact the brain and body is doing exactly what it designed to do.

Several things may help. Although you are right to be a little sceptical about non scientific interventions, you might find that a little of what QDM suggests, may actually break the link between the brain and the adrenal glands in the first place, hence preventing the situation occurring. (It works for people who are afraid of spiders/flying/heights etc).

Another solution is to deal with the chemicals flowing through your system. I like the anger thing, it may help, as may deep breathing at the time of stress. (it really does work-breathe in for 5, hold for 5 and release for 5s.)

Beta blockers also inhibit the effects of the chemicals. (Check with your AME of course.)

Improving your general level of fitness with aerobic activity, (20mins 3 times a week), may also help, it seemed to work for me.

Visualisation, (mentally rehearsing the situation before hand), may also be useful.

Let us know how you get on, David.

[kabz]

as a brief postscript to my previous post, I was just laid off from work, and just this morning, adopted a mood of not giving a crap (just fly like I know how) and passed my commercial multi and single rides.

Multi ride was a continuation after weather and was chocca, take-off, engine failure in the pattern, single engine landing, engine failure on takeoff roll, engine failure after gear up, then short field on two. 0.6 of damned hard work.

[countdechickens]

Having had a few days now to reflect and recover from my defeat, I would like to thank all contributors for the empathy and advice.
Gingernut, yes exactly, this is an unhelpful fight and flight reaction and I also had the reduction in peripheral vision along with a seriously dry mouth. Not sure how these two help you evade mammoths.
I run and cycle regularly, with frequent races. A fellow runner who has a sports clinic suggests ‘athletes’ subconsciously encourage the ‘flight n flight’ reaction as its usually the correct response when they get ‘butterflies’. Unfortunately in this case the butterflies turned to fruit bats and deprived my of sleep for 3 days.

Trying to track down a CBT specialist has proved difficult in the rural backwater where I live. They are all (both) booked up until well after Santa has been (next year?) and seemed a bit reluctant anyway once I explained the problem. However there is probably no rush as I am unlikely to get another stab at command for some considerable time after the last debacle.
Having a chat over a beer with ‘muckers’ is helpful but not that much. Before I have another go at it I need to feel that something has changed, hopefully not the name on the side of the plane.

Beamer. Now on A320. The previous turboprop may identify me (as if the above has not?). I had no sim experience before this job and did develop acute ‘simitus’ initially, which now only returns, along with a touch of Tourette's Syndrome to bu**er up command assessments.

[BoeingBoy]

CDC.

The main thing about a command assesment ride is to make sure that you approach it with a mind set that says that whatever you do, in whatever scenario,will be what you will do on the day in real life.

If that means you may come into direct conflict with the trainer in the back, it doesn't matter, so long as you were legal, safe, and sensible.

Above all fly your sims for yourself and just ignore what you think the trainer wants you to do.

Believe me when I say that I have just come out of the simulator having suffered probably even worse symptoms than you describe, the difference is that I have been a jet Captain for 19 years! Sims still send me to the pits of depression, however at the end of the day I just have to say ' sod it, sod him!, and I'm just going to do what I would do in real life' Funnily enough they seem to keep signing my licence. God knows why!

Good luck and send a PM or a mail if I can help more.

[Loose rivets]

CDC

Coming in a bit late on this but there is a lot of good stuff here from guys that obviously have felt the pain.

There is one thing that is for sure, the training staff, have seen in all. Anything you do they will have seen before…probably magnified a hundred times.

My initial jet training was on a BAC 1-11 as a young first officer, and a lot of my captains had gone through the war. They were good blokes, but when they were put in a sim, it was as though they were struggling for their PPL s!

I found that I had to compartmentalize and prioritize, which when you come to think of it - apart from a reasonable ability in aircraft handling - is what flying is all about…and easier said than done, but it was the only way to master the dreaded 6monthlys. You have to go in prepared, that’s a given: but then somehow master those nerves. There is no time…repeat, no time…to think emotionally. Fu*k the mortgage, the loss of face etc. etc.. the next item is there waiting to be actioned. The vertical profile comes to mind, and probably comes somewhere near the top of the list.

Don’t self-assess. While you are thinking about the last howler, you will miss the next little clue that the mean sod in the centre throne, throws at you. You are a previously proven captain, let them see this. For instance, don’t assume that the clearances that are given have to be obeyed without question. if you are on one engine, and by some magical process the fog suddenly clears, don’t necessarily be tempted to throw away altitude; it’s money in the bank. To refuse…or I should say request a delay on the decent – subject to other factors of course – may not only put you in a good position as the field clamps again, but let the examiner know that you are thinking ahead. He doesn’t want a puppet, he wants a commander.

It does sound as though you are having some very real reactions. I have made my feeling very clear in the past about popping pills when flying. I just happen to be in a room full of reference data, but my feelings are very simple and based on experience. To really fly with them in your system would be criminal, and the time for them to be purged is often unknown. Having said this, classical musicians have given virtuoso performances having taken Beta blockers and I, some thirty years ago flew a sim ride that had the training staff calling in the boss to watch; it was described as exemplary. I had the lowest hours in the company but nothing seemed to go wrong. I was off sick and had taken Valium to relax a sports injury that was causing a muscle to go into spasm. It was felt that I could get my check out of the way, and I was going on leave immediately after…and this was a prescribed drug. It seemed such a reasonable thing to do, but with modern knowledge, it manifestly was not. The tendency for these drugs to linger is now known about but as I mentioned, not easy to quantify. This “miracle-drug” is a double edged sward, with vicious kick-back reactions in some people. How can you do without this chemical help?
To get away to a good start is always helpful, and a little knowledge of the particular training guy is helpful. If you can get over the first few minutes, you should start to feel a different kind of chemistry take over; stimulating and beneficial. This change is reasonably well understood, but even if a mistake is made, stay focused on the future not the past. You are working towards gaining a feeling of well-being by being a pilot not a candidate. It is a job you know well, just focus on that.

Become a time accountant: if you are not using it efficiently, then odds are, something is being missed. E.g. reasonable guesses at the power-lever positions will liberate your mind while the dials spin to the new setting; there is no time to watch them change.

Another sim technique is to compensate for the absence of g-forces by added attention to basic instruments. I know we are not supposed to fly by our pants, but in rough conditions I just find that I have moved the power before the VSI / ASI shows a change. I don’t remember ever planning to do this, it just happened years ago, and of course is suddenly not there in the box.

By chance, I have just watched a DVD of pilot errors. It was made for psychologists and others, and the main issue was unnoticed mode changes. A wonderful opportunity for the sadistic check-captain. If the basic flying is going wrong, i.e. a rate of decent is wildly removed from the anticipated, then get it right first, and then scan for the reason…not the other way round. Fly the aircraft. It sounds so obvious, but it is part of the sim psychology and should be thought through first.

Some of the humor during these rides, is the stuff of legends. A pal of mine failed to notice that his F/O had died, and went happily on for some time before the (frustrated actor) F/O convulsed again in a rather more dramatic way…the word flailing comes to mind. Still no reaction. The guy in the throne rang the intercom and asked in a falsetto voice if he would like some tea. He, rather surprised, said yes. He was then asked if his F/o would like some. After some seconds and his first look outside his tunnel vision cone, he replied in a most serious voice, “no thanks, he’s dead.” True, I promise, and just an example of other peoples mind-set. You are not alone.

[beamer]

I think that sometimes we should put simulators into some context. In my past life I was in the sim every month and as such tended to view the exercise as a 'training aid' rather than a test. I then became a sim instructor and saw life from the console which I hope again gave me a better perspective. I was never sold on the adage ' its just like the real thing' because it was'nt then and it is not now. My first officers invariably fly the thing more accurately than I do but most 'trainers' are more concerned with decision making, teamwork, tech knowledge and crm than
pure handling; sop's and procedures have to be correct of course.

In my company we change the basic scenario twice a year - the trainers do naturally have scope to alter profiles to suit crew performance on the day. It is inevitable that word gets around as to what is flavour of the season for failures etc; one common problem is that some colleagues take hastily written summaries of someone else's detail as gospel, gen up accordingly and then
come a cropper when other failures and probelms rear their heads in the box. Simple answer. go in with a blank sheet of paper, fly the thing the best you can, know your sop's and drills,
don't rush emergencies and be prepared to laugh away the occasional cockup. Oh yes. don't argue with the trainer unless you are VERY sure of your ground !

CDC - Thanks for info, I have no idea who you are or who you work for - neither of which is my business. I can well imagine that the transition from a small aircraft with no sim to an electric jet upon which all training is conducted in the box must be a major transition. No sure about all the jock strapping though !!

[QDMQDMQDM]

Er, excuse me?!

[Vortex Thing]

Hmmm spot the chap in a solid relationship. Methinks you hve relationship issues and that your scanscan scan has broken down...

Good luck CdeChicken. A bit like its a game of 2 halves you'll either make it or you won't and though little comfort when then pay statement comes the good old adage says that is better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here.

If your not quite up to it better not to be a skipper until you are and you will hopefully never find out if that adage is true.

The F/O money is good enough your family won't starve everyone cannot be a general.

Merry Xmas VT

[countdechickens]

I am touched by the many genuine and sincere contributions on this topic, both here and by private message. I’m sure that a combination of techniques suggested may provide success, although Mrs Countdechickens is less than enthusiastic about being shagged by a toe twiddling drunk and then dumped, especially with Christmas approaching.

It has come to light that I am in good company seeking a solution to sim nerves. Apparently there are several other pilots (FO and Capt) already receiving the attentions of a ‘counsellor’. As the Airline is small this is a high percentage and leaves me asking what (who?) is leading to such widespread sim dread.

Having done a bit of research of some of the suggestions (could only ignore the kid for 2 minutes) I am curious as to the dangers of beta blockers if one’s resting HR is 46 (due to training rather than a condition). There use is somewhere near the bottom of my preferred options but they were described somewhere in the net as ‘the best kept secret’ for musicians, public speakers, and ‘skill’ type sports which seems very close to the sim environment.

I would describe myself as an open minded sceptic, if that’s not mutually exclusive, so would not discount homeopathy as suggested privately. Speckled hen at 5.4% alcohol takes 3 pints to make me dizzy so a drop of rose petal water diluted 1:50K does not inspire confidence but am willing to give it a go.

[gingernut]

Just a point about the beta blockers, they are in fact contra-indicated in somebody with a slow heart beat ! Time for a bit of gentle therapy ?

[Re-Heat]

Regarding Beta Blockers - I am currently on Propranolol, which is prescribed for a thyroid condition. Although my medical is suspended at the moment, the CAA have no issue with taking that drug - their only issue being the stabilisation of the condition under the drugs, which has yet to happen.

Furthermore there are many who are taking beta blockers while flying, for various illnesses of the heart, thyroid and metabolism. Taking it for stressful conditions is common - not least around exam time at med school. Its use with a sim ride could be regarded as an unfair advantage, however if the AME has no problem with it, I cannot see what there is to prevent you using it.

Regarding your low heart rate - at the time of stress you heart rate and BP will be through the roof anyway. Beta Blockers return them to a more normal level ideally - in the lower doses for anxiety and stress the effect should reduce heart rate and BP to make you feel more relaxed, but I cannot believe it would be much of a risk when you already have alow heart rate, as it is all relative to your body's state, and many fit people have to use it with thyroid situations. Fatigue, weakness and other symtoms are only really an issue if on a course of the drug over time. The only issue may be intake of alcohol after the sim check, as it may lower BP too much.

Having however done some professional exams last week with beta blockers in the system, I am dubious as to the claims that it relieved stress. Whether that was because they were so tough that I was more anxious when sitting the exam, or whether the propranolol had little effect I don't know. I am however more relaxed now in day-to-day work than before I had them prescribed!


Loose rivets - their effects are well documented, and far from being criminal are in fact used by many for angina while still flying. Propranolol has a half-life of 3-6 hours, and does not linger.

PS - my heart rate was fairly low before administration, while doing moderate to high exercise.

[gingernut]

Re-heat, I have no doubts as to the usefulness and safety of beta-blockers, and your point about low heart rate is taken. I doubt that there exists any research evidence in the area of safety in low heart rate, but at the end of the day, the use of beta blockers when the heart is beating slow, is contra-indicated.

Weighing up the risks and benefits, my opinion would be avoid, if our heartbeat is low,(and 46 is low, albeight due to fitness), particularly if there is an alternative.

[QDMQDMQDM]

I'd be very wary indeed about taking beta blockers with a resting HR of 46, even if it is due to training.

QDM

[visibility3miles]

"I fail before I get anywhere near the sim."

I'm not a professional pilot, so can't offer "real" advice, but is it possible you can get access to the sim, or any sim, when your career does not depend on it? Can you hire time to get practice on a sim just so you can get used to it?

Others have suggested that you visualize the situation, but if you can practice on it more (with some sadistic help) when it does not matter how well you do, that may help your nerves.

Or are there computer programs out there that throw in challenges out of the blue for people to practice on their own?

[Officedesk]

Try this!



Really works for all kinds of stress rlated problems ranging from the situation described, to general life anxiety. The good thing is that it is safe and approved and your AME wont have a fit if you are doing it.

[Bo Jingly]

I suffered a similar thing for ages and still get nervous for my sims, but THE thing that absolutely works is meditation, concentration on my breathing and visualisation. If you convince your subconscious that things will go well, it produces the results in your body.

Weird but believe me it works......

Now, where was that whisky bottle?

[sailor]

Tuppence-worth; first perhaps drive the dining room chair round the whole sim session (which you already know well and have no problem with normally) visualising every part of it in detail so that you know the whole thing backwards and can do it with your eyes shut - single -engine go round - throttle whichever leg and all. As many times as you need to. This naturally after you have boned up on the tech aspects so you know it all pat about a week to go.
Realise that the box (sim) is a bunch of amps and volts which know nothing about aviation, but if you put the various levers in the right place at the right time the amps and volts give you the answers you want - spot on speed, ROD, G/P and localiser and if you move nothing they stay like that! Our sim technicians could "fly" a better approach than anyone I have seen!
That covers preparation and the box; mental attitude next. You go in KNOWING that this is the one that you will pass, you fly the session as a Captain on a standard (but VERY trying) day with an aircraft that is VERY sick in a lot of systems which you know you don't really need anyway, being a Manager mainly, rather than pilot, which comes as second nature, staying well ahead of the A/C in thought decision and deed. Attitude and fuel flow our trainers used to say - ball in the middle helps a lot too-, and it worked! Get both in the right ballpark initially and when you have a spare moment - fine tune, and the amps and volts you have selected give the perfect answer!
Any bad bits forget immediately put out of your mind ( easier said than done!) and get on to the next - GOOD - bit. But I was forgetting that today there are not going to be any bad bits!
And at the end of 2 hours of that: - " Well Done ; you passed!" Agree with all the trainer's comments keeping discussion to a minimum that way, take notes of all that he has to say, to remind you on the next check, and hello again fourth stripe!
Then go home and get pissed or the other way round - I'm sure the missus will understand!
Hope it works for you!
Best of luck!

[chuks]

I would stay away from alcohol and Valium, Valium especially. It used to be thought of as the answer to all of life's problems back in the States in the late Sixties, early Seventies but then it was found to cause far more problems than it cured! Plus, it is highly addictive.

And alcohol just buries a problem for a while without really dealing with it. It's only when you go without it that you can see how booze is no help at all.

There is another sort of medication that might help: Beta-blockers, so-called. I don't know much about this except from what I have read in the papers but it's supposed to help in cases of `performance anxiety.' For example, some musicians use it to overcome stagefright. It blocks some of the stress chemicals the brain produces without interfering with the higher functions you need to perform properly. Check with your physician.

Another thing is to get some practical psychological help. Not going back to your childhood or anything like that but learning techniques that you can use to visualise and then achieve success in specific tasks. It can be as simple as focusing on what to do, rather than what not to do, but it is anything but simple in many cases to do this without help. I wouldn't be so dismissive of using pyschology, since it really can help. From what you have written, what do you have to lose?

I have used psychology myself and I have found it to be of great help. I was in a bit of a corner until I found some techniques that let me head off in another direction. Before that I was just banging my head against the wall, trying very hard and getting nowhere.

Best of luck in any case. I think that you should be able to find something in all of this advice that you can use to pass your command check.

[Hawk]

I find it quite scarey that sedatives and betablockers are being suggested to relieve anxiety during a simulator check.

I wonder how pilots would manage a real life aviation emergency if they cant handle a simulated emergency check without tranxs.

Some good suggestions in this thread. Others, with clearly no understanding of the action or efficacy of sedatives and beta blockers are just bordering on irresponsibility.

Its interesting that people would prefer to take drugs rather than the safer psychotherapy option. Performance anxiety is easily treated by a psychologist. Its amazing that there are still professional pilots that view treatment by mental health professionals with suspicion and distrust. Psychologists have been working for many years in aviation, including simulator issues with very good results.

[nurjio]

CDC - Good luck pal, I feel for you. By way of preparation for the sim, can I recommend a 15-20 minute run on a treadmill at 7.5 mph with "2 Minutes To Midnight" (Iron Maiden) blaring out from the boogie box? Mid-run, give yourself an No 1 engine fire and go through the drill!.... Great practice.