Sim assessment preparation course
 

Hi all.
I have been called for an interview with Ryanair and before going I would like to do one of those SAP courses in order to be a bit more prepared for the assessment.
I have found a couple of them in Gatwick (Virtual Aviation and Virtual flight centre) and in Shanon (Shanon flight sim centre). The price difference is quite big and maybe some of you have attended one of these courses at this places and can give some feedback on how did it go and if it was worthy the price.
Also if anybody know any other SIM centre, anywhere in Europe, offering this kind of assessment prepararion courses, I will appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks a lot in advance for your replies!!!!!!

Just a thought... If I was making recruitment decisions for RYR, I would chop and change the recruitment process as often as I could, so that I could look at candidates properly. I wouldn't want to be judging who had best adapted during the expensive and desperate 'prep' course. I'd look for the things that are important to me in a pilot, and I would do all I could to avoid being fooled by the work of an outside agency who seek to take Joe Bloggs and make him look like Peter Perfect.

Well, that's what I would do. But I don't work for RYR.

If I was about to pay for one of these prep courses, I'd fear that the employer might, indeed, be just about to start looking at candidates properly; if they did, my hard-earned cash would be wasted...

I'd like to think that the best candidates shine through any process. I did, but I didn't accept their offer. Interesting experience, nonetheless.

Thank you for your reply, but I am not really interested in "what would you do if you were a RYR recruiter". If anybody can answer my question without telling me stories I didn't ask for, i will appreciate it.
I understand some people is against this and against that, but since the market has already changed, we have to adapt to it. I don't want to think this is another forum where whenever you ask for help, there must be some superproffesional pilot with thousands of flight hours who tries tell you that you have to follow his/her steps because thats the only right way.
So, please, if anybody can only and exclusively give me some feedback about those SAP courses, that would be great!!!
I am not trying to be an smart ass, but after reading on a few forums always the same comments, I think I already have enough info to take my own decisions about for wich company I want to apply.
Simply answer the first post or remain in silence for a while.
Thanks a lot!!!!!!

Thanks a lot for your reply!!!!
Do you know any MCC/JOC sim centre in UK or Europe where I could do a couple of hours with an instructor before attending the assessment?

Thank you!!!

If your Sim Assessment is on the -800, why not get a few hours on an -800 ?

Doing a few hours on a -200 might not be the best way to spend your money. I presume you're not looking to practice flying a SID, you can do that in an FNPT or on your iPhone for that matter, what you're looking for is a feel for the sim you'll be checked on? Not sit in the sim for the first time on test day saying to yourself "the -200 didnt have those buttons' or "the -200 wasn't this fast".

It might cost a few more €, but its probably money well spent if you can find somewhere to do it.

However, the one piece of good advice I can give you is dont discount any advice (including post #2). What are they looking for in a candidate? Knowledge of the -800? Or perhaps how quickly a candidate can pick it up, retain the information they're given, and adapt to a new aircraft?

Good luck anyway.

(And I too would be interested in any feedback from those with experience of VirtualFlight in Gatwick).

Skeikerman,

If that attitude comes through in your interview, no amount of simulator preparation will get you through. This forum is inhabited by wannabes (including you) and some experienced aviators who drop in and offer some words of advice free of charge. I respectfully suggest that you reconsider your reply and make absolutely certain that that sort of response doesn't surface at all during any recruitment process. Experienced aviators (and in my case, recruiters) will spot a poor attitude from a thousand paces, and your card will be marked.

I'm quite happy to pop in here and offer some thoughts from time to time, and I happily answer PMs from folk here too; often, they're glad of the advice. It's always on a 'take it or leave it' basis, and never on a 'take it or dismiss it rudely' basis.

A few hours in the oxford 737/400 sim wont do any harm. The instructors know the RYR procedures well.

Would Ryanair give low hours A320 guys a shot at an assessment? Or do you have to do their MCC to get an invitation?

Just curious.

I've used the Sim at Virtual in Gatwick - the instructor was a current airline pilot and was excellent with good advice and good briefings. The sim is housed inside an old 737-200 cockpit - its like a hybrid homebuilt sim. It is quite tricky to get the feel for it. Practice flying by attitude and you will be fine in the RYR sim.

I would suggest 2hrs min if you can afford it as 1hr does not give you much practice and flies by! It is what it is... it's not a proper fixed base sim but that is reflected in the price.

Good luck :ok:

Skeikerman,

If you can fly then don't spend any money on sim prep. Just turn up and fly. Doing stuff on a glorified computer game is doing nothing except lining someone else's pockets. If you are a pilot then you'll be fine.

Total rubbish.
There are plenty of guys who are pilots that fail sim assessments for all kinds of jobs (me included) because they failed to prepare properly. Get an hour or so with a mate on the Oxford B737-400. Its good value and the instructors know the Ryanair profiles.

Can do no harm for someone inexperienced to fly a jet
at 4 to 6 degrees nose up flying straight and level as a a pose to nose at 0 degrees in a light twin.

Twas an eye opener for me when I started.

A good jet MCC should put you in good stead for an interview sim.
If you haven't graced a decent Jet sim then a few handling and CRM issues could arise on the day and that would be bad news wouldn't it.
If you think you need an hour or so then you probably do but don't go crazy!
Not sure if it's still there but European at Bournemouth had a great
737-200 sim reasonably cheap. Throwing that at a few raw data's and around a few holds will do nothing but good.
I completed my MCC with them years ago. It did me very proud.

Good luck all!