View Full Version : Sim Check Practice, should you keep it a secret?
badboy raggamuffin
19th Oct 2007, 13:51
Hi all, have got a sim check coming up and am deffo gonna get some pracice in on a similar sim b4hand.
My question is that if the airline ask me whether I have had any practice, what should I say?
If I say no and it is blatantly obvious from my flying that I have had some practice then I will look like a liar,
on the other hand if I fly no better than someone who has never been in a jet sim and I say I have had some prior practice the It might make me look like a muppet pilot....
what to people think about this most important of issues?????
Mercenary Pilot
19th Oct 2007, 14:17
Admit it. I once had a chat to a senior pilot who was involved in sim-checking cadets for one of the biggest airlines in the UK, he told me that he would cut anyone that had lied about having Sim experience.
cavortingcheetah
19th Oct 2007, 14:21
:hmm:
It is unlikely you will be asked, but anyway...
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I will tell you why!
If you admit to having flown a jet simulator beforehand then some other bright spark on the selection day will ask if you can go first, because you have had prior experience, so that he can observe.
You do not want this to happen. You want him to go first so that you can sit in the jump seat and watch his mistakes.
The odds are more in your favour if you elect to toss a coin. The odds are much more in your favour if you have observed someone else making a mess of the mini test.
Good luck!;)
Suffice to say that on all the numerous assessment simulator checks which one has failed; there has never not been another candidate in the simulator.
fantom
19th Oct 2007, 14:38
Relax. You won't be allowed to sit on any jumpseat to watch another candidate.
I just did a sim for a guy who had a interview (and sim) the next day. I admired him for his planning and commitment. There is no doubt he was well prepared and his money was well spent.
Good luck.
Gullyone
19th Oct 2007, 15:49
I agree with fantom, a few hours to get the hang of it is sensible 100 hrs to become an ace is not.
A few hours makes no real difference, but if you do 5+ and do not mention it you will be giving a false representation of your abilities, so you might well pass but you gave the assessor no real chance to do his job, therefore you may end up unable to complete the TR due to your failings, which had you been honest would of been spotted, IMO.
YYZ
Gullyone
19th Oct 2007, 20:23
A few hours makes no real difference, but if you do 5+ and do not mention it you will be giving a false representation of your abilities, so you might well pass but you gave the assessor no real chance to do his job, therefore you may end up unable to complete the TR due to your failings, which had you been honest would of been spotted, IMO.
A few hours can make all the difference to relax someone who is is not sure what to expect. As a sim instuctor I have seen it make all the difference and most of the guys who do a few hours with me pass the assesment, and get to keep the job.
I did not mean to the candidate, I meant the assessor.
YYZ
Polorutz
20th Oct 2007, 13:27
I would assume that if a Pilot Becomes proficient enough to pass an assessment while only doing a couple of hours he shows ability to learn and as long as he tries hard during his TR and studies hard there wouldn't be any reason not to get the job.
Do the prep, but definately don't lie about it. You can spot someone who has more Sim experience than they are letting on about. Also, don't be concerned if the guy beside you waiting for assesment has done more prep than you. When being assessed, the 'examiner' is looking for your ability to be trained.
bacou
20th Oct 2007, 18:25
Just a suggestion
Why not trying Flight Simulator which is far cheaper than a Full Flight Simulator and gives useful tricks on where the buttons are, how to use them and the type of EFIS you will have to fly (Speed / altitude tape, Vertical speed).
I think it gives enough preparation for an interview whithout cheating.
You won't have to lie and you'll save money.
Good luck
Propellerhead
21st Oct 2007, 10:25
Depends how much you want the job, If it's your dream job tehn go for it and go and practice in a proper sim beforehand, if you've got the money!
Microsoft flight sim can also be surprisingly effective in addition to a real sim, at practising instrument scans and holds / ILS etc (I don't know what level your sim is aimed at - it will be much simpler if you haven't flown before).
Both of the above helped me get my last job and whilst I wouldn't volunteer the information, if asked you should be honest as it shows commitment and preparation - all good ticks in the boxes! If you lie you may find his best mate runs the sim you practiced on etc - it's a small world!