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Old 16th Feb 2008, 00:06
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Airbus Simulator Hints/Tricks/Tips

There seems to be a wealth of talented people that contribute to this forum and was hoping some Airbus guys might be able to share some hints or tips that help them through sim checks.

Are there any sequences that check pilots regularly see mis handled ?

Im very new to the bus and keen to learn some of the stuff thats not necessarily in the manuals (as ive found they occasionally tell you only HALF THE STORY !)

Cheers !
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 02:51
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The best piece of advise i was given was plain and simple. " Turn the autopilot on, if you don't treat the sidestick like another man's co*k and don't touch it unless you really have to ". Best of luck
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 03:59
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13 knots

And when the trainer asks you "if the answer is 13 knots, what's the question"....it's how many knots are in the escape rope, had that a few times, not sure if it's a common thing amonst all sims.
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 04:47
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"if the answer is 13 knots, what's the question"....

If a trainer asked me that on a check ride, I'd see that he uses it
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 05:19
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I agree with GRD, I was told in Toulouse by Airboose instructor to treat the sidestick with disdain, the less you touch it the better off you'd be.
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 17:58
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A4

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Secondary Pitch during EFATO

1. A common one this. During EFATO, the back pressure on the sidestick is not released to neutral as "Normal Law - Flight Mode" blends in from "Ground Mode". So at approx 100'RA with the sidestick firmly held in the "rotate" position, Normal Law interprets this as a "G" load demand and will increase pitch accordingly! This results in a speed decay below V2 unless it is caught very quickly. So..... REMEMBER to release the back pressure on the sidestick as the laws blend..or else you'll be doing it again!

2. I also recommend the use of TOGA if you are close to performance limit (hot/high/heavy/low QNH) - of course certification suggests that you will safely climb away remaining in FLX but...... I prefer to have as much perfomance as I can when close to the ground and other factors are against me.

3. ECAM DISCIPLINE. PF controls the pace that ECAM is actioned and PNF actions accordingly without swamping or leaving the PF behind - who is probably working hard concentrating on flying / navigating / communicating. DONT RUSH ECAM!!! Read it, understand what it is asking, and the implications of what you are about to do. Treat each individual failure as a chapter in a book i.e. finish one chapter before going on to the next. i.e. complete ENG 1 - FAIL by CLRing before looking at ENG 1 - START VALVE FAULT and so on. Complete the ECAM through to removing STATUS before applying GRADE/DODAR - you can always pull the STATUS PAGE back during you GRADE/DODAR.

4. Don't get bogged down with minuti details - you've probably got LAND ASAP in amber or red - so get on with it, but don't cut gig corners.

5. Enjoy it, learn from your mistakes and leave the session feeling you have improved!!!!!!

A4
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Old 16th Feb 2008, 22:48
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A4 - Thankyou exacty the kind of info i was after !. As amusing as it once was, we've all heard the sidestick gags before !!

For what its worth, a few that i have picked up recently:

1 - As soon as ANY flap/slat problem is identified, PULL SPEED. Then troubleshoot/ECAM. (This stops flap overspeed or decelerating below a safe manouvering speed).

2- Beware the double RA fault - The ECAM is relatively straightforward but Lots of 'unexpected' things happen close to the ground !

Question for the experts re ECAM discpline......

With a STATUS page requiring APP PROC's to be determined, do you 'interrupt' the flow of the ECAM and work it out then and there or do you finish the STATUS and come back to the performance calcs at a more convenient time ?
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Old 17th Feb 2008, 03:47
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These are my notes that I made during my upgrade training:

1) Study the visual circuits, you will be practicing a lot of these and you should be able to spit the procedures out.

2) Anytime performing VOR/NDB approaches use Flaps 1 when overhead, Flaps 2 when inbound, gear down, 1 and half mile to FAF flaps 3 and half a mile to FAF flaps full & .3 miles start descent.

3) SE OPS During Climb
a. Thrust MCT
b. A/THR OFF
c. Revise ALT
d. Speed VFTO (Managed speed)
e. ECAM ACTIONS

4) SE During Cruise
a. THR MCT
b. A/THR OFF
c. ALT set 20,000’ (just to initiate descent)
d. HDG 090 degrees offset (If in RVSM airspace, leave the airway by 10/25 nm)
e. Speed Green Dot
f. ECAM Actions
g. Reset ALT lower than what it shows in FMGS

5) SE OPS During Descent
a. If FMA reads ( THR IDLE | OP DES | ……) – THR MCT
b. ECAM actions

6) Engine Failure on Take off after V1 or if call is GO
a. TOGA
b. Vr, +climb gear up
c. Take off heading, in trim conditions auto pilot on
d. 400’ Primary ECAM actions
e. Inform ATC, request RW heading, and lower altitude
f. When on Bleed page, ask PNF to turn the APU on.
g. Status Page : NO OEBS, NO COMPUTER RESETS, NO ENGINE RELIGHT (if engine flame out this is when you will apply paper checklist for ENGINE RELIGHT) After TO Check list and than read STATUS
h. Ask ATC that you request Radar vectors, confirm if same runway and same wx.
i. Ask PNF to prepare the FMGS for arrival, once complete, either you brief or ask him to do the briefing as well and than approach checklist.
j. At an appropriate time inform CC and Dispatch that you are returning back. Tell CC due to Technical problems and dispatch for the abnormalities. Make a PA for guests as well.
k. Once Approach checklist is complete inform ATC that you are ready for the approach.

7) For NPA make FPA corrections in .5 degrees, ie 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0

8) Startup problems, tell GND and engineer as soon as possible after engine shutdown. Take new clearance for subsequent engine starts.

9) Anytime G/S is inop ask ATC if it is the TX problem (RX failure may occur).

10) All LOC intercept must be on HDG mode.

11) Read Overweight Landing Procedures and Gravity Gear Extension, you will be using it a lot of time.

12) Read ILS from above.

13) Anytime problem with APU and starting with External Pneumatic ask dispatch if the destination station has a serviceable external GPU and pneumatic available.

14) For NDB approaches on MCDU RAD NAV page, tune a non tuneable ILS frequency and set the correct course, use this course as a guidance for FPA.

15) Read Emergency EVAC
a. Must turn the Dome light to Bright
b. A/C excursion must evacuate
16) Must consult QRH 2.32 for delta V ref and confirm with ECAM

17) Abandoning Approach
a. If a fault occurs after established on finals or whenever the checklist cannot be completed by 1000’ AGL abandon approach, inform ATC that you are abandoning approach.
b. Select HDG, and initiate climb and request RV or further instructions.
c. Any abnormalities below 500’ AGL continue and land.

18) HYD failure- two types:
a. Recoverable Failure
i. Low Pressure
ii. Pump Overheat
iii. Reservoir Overheat
b. Unrecoverable Failure
i. Low fluid level

19) Anytime Recoverable failure, try to recover it once committed to land that is below 1000’ AGL, recover the system and than turn the pump off.

20) Anytime you have slat and/or flaps fault always leave the facility with some slats/flaps out. Always fly in select speed VFE NEXT- 5 until configured for landing. So in case of flaps locked use config 1 in case of slats jammed use config 2 before leaving the facility for approach.

21) In case of SLAT & FLAPS locked at 0, leave the facility with config 1, select speed VREF + 60 and insert VREF+50 in FMGS, at 300’ AGL speed MANAGED.

22) If Landing Gear is stuck in down position, the flight cannot be continued to DEST, return back for landing.

23) Whenever you have ADR and IR fault, read which one to apply first ADR or IR?

24) For all SE approaches check the following:
a. If APU available bleed on
b. Autobrakes LO or MED
c. GW whether overweight landing checklist is required or not
d. Rudder trim zero between 100’ to 50’.

25) Read Dual FCU fault.

26) Read Dual FAC fault.

27) Read Dual HYD failure.

28) Read Landing Gear faults.

29) Read flaps/slats faults.

30) Read Engine Tail Pipe Fire checklist.

31) Read REV UNLOCK in Flight checklist

32) Anytime PFD failure on takeoff, continue takeoff with ISIS, turn the other A/P On and than ECAM actions.

33) Anytime there is A/P failure immediately engage the other one.

34) BSCU reset cannot be done more than twice.

35) Autobrake fault, do not reset in the air.

36) Read on which computers cannot be reset in air.

37) Shock Absorber Fault
a. AC remains in GND mode
b. Use MAN Pitch Trim
c. Deselect MAX brake.
d. Speed Select 250 kts.
e. FDs ON, Bird ON (to come out of SRS mode)
f. Clean on schedule
g. Ignore the # symbol on PFD and fly the bird.
h. If reset is successful or if ECAM calls for Gear Retraction slow to 220 kts.

38) Engine Flame out on RW, low speed RTO
a. Do not stop on the RW and apply parking brakes
b. Do not make a PA until clear of RW
c. Advice ATC of the same, the idea is not to block the RW

39) Under following conditions ECAM actions can be started below 400’ AGL
a. Reverser unlocked
b. Exceedenses (Engine Parameters)
c. Damage (Both N1 & N2 will have amber crosses)
d. Stall (Engine Stall)
e. Oil pressure (Genuine low oil pressure)

40) Emergency Descent

41) HYD Failure G+B & G+Y
a. Go through FCOM and know how to read the summary
b. Landing distances (Before preparing the approach, to be sure adequate RW length)
c. FCOM 1 action on switches (HYD PUMP FAULT, PTU AUTO,, etc )
d. No Slats/Flaps selection during turn.
e. Fly the attitude, may have to disregard the FD’s and do not exceed 25 degrees bank.
f. Base to final, wider circuit and request longer approach.
g. Ask for shallower intercept angle.

42) SMOKE REMOVAL Procedure

43) BOMB ON BOARD – Read QRH, specific kind of bomb Time, Pressure. Apply the procedure accordingly.

44) Anytime you have partial gear, HYD failure or Manual Gear extension do not vacate the runway and ask for tow truck.

45) During SIM skill test, no visual approaches unless CAVOK.

46) DUAL MCDU Failure

47) CREW Incapacitation
a. TWO positive calls and no response consider incapacitation.
b. Press the Take over button for 40 Secs (while pressing the button, AP cannot be engaged)
c. AP ON and then gear up
d. Call the IFM to flight Deck.
e. Carry out the procedures

48) Beta target is available when
a. TOGA/MCT
b. Flaps/Slats are out
c. One EPR>1.25
d. Difference between the two is > .25

49) For all NPA make sure to check time for procedure turns and Inbound in case of DME out.

50) TCAS Procedures

51) Self sustaining RPM is >43% N2, starter valve closed and N2 increases on its own

52) Must dry crank for 30 secs anytime a start is abandoned & fuel is introduced to the engine (start the other engine first, this will give time for N1 spool down and 30 sec dry crank will take care of getting read of fuel)

53) For Dual FAC fault, all speeds have to be calculated from QRH and double checked with FMGS

54) For SLATS/FLAPS fault the VFE is controlled by flap lever position whereas Vls is controlled by actual flap position.

55) Anytime you have runaway engine (short final thrust idle but thrust doesn’t reduce), shutdown the engine (ask PNF).

56) Know where to look for advisory conditions (QRH) and what it means.

57) If PACK ONE/TWO fault before takeoff and after takeoff you develop ENGINE BLEED TWO/ONE fault, use CROSS BLEED OPEN To supply opposite pack from opposite engine.

58) In case of LOC Failure on ILS 1 and GS failure on ILS 2, keep the ROSE ILS and you will get loc info from PFD/ND and GS from ND/PFD.
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Old 17th Feb 2008, 05:31
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Sumfingwong,

You ask, "With a STATUS page requiring APP PROC's to be determined, do you 'interrupt' the flow of the ECAM and work it out then and there or do you finish the STATUS and come back to the performance calcs at a more convenient time ?"

Our procedures are to complete the ECAM prior to reaching for the QRH. This includes the procedure and the entire STATUS review. Only after announcing "ECAM actions completed." would we refer to the QRH for additional information such as speed increments, landing configuration and distance .

The Evaluators (Check Pilots) and Simulator Instructors tell me that the things that are most often done incorrectly in the simulator are the engine failure in cruise, hold entries, go-arounds and ECAM discipline. These are all relatively simple items but seem to get botched on a regular basis.

My Scottish Presbyterian Grandmother told me as a young boy, "Son, if you had time to fix it, you had time to do it right the first time." That is great advice for any aircraft (or simulator), but particularly the Airbus family.

best regards,

Bruce Waddington

Last edited by Bruce Waddington; 18th Feb 2008 at 15:34.
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Old 17th Feb 2008, 07:57
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A4

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I'll second what Bruce says. It's too common to see people getting bogged down in QRH procedures before they've completely read through the STATUS page. So they are flying round and round the hold doing NITS briefs, making PA's, briefing for the approach - all with the STATUS page still up having never been removed.

Remember - any approach flown in ALTERNATE LAW will become DIRECT LAW at gear down. So select CONF 3 (NEVER select flap full in you are going into DIRECT LAW), get the speed at VAPP and be in trim before dropping the gear. For double RA failure you go straight from NORMAL to DIRECT.

Finally - have a look at the AFTER ENG SHUTDOWN procedure in FCOM 3 Abnormals - there's a lot of good stuff in there with respect to APU Bleed and Fire Push buttons..............

A4
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Old 17th Feb 2008, 23:40
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V1 cut.Pitch for 10 degrees for the first few seconds until the fd's settle down. The book says 12.5 but 10 works a treat initially in the sim!easy to aim for and gives you a few moments to gather your thoughts!
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Old 17th Feb 2008, 23:53
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Fantastic info - thanks guys !
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Old 18th Feb 2008, 00:08
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hold status

With regards to ECAM discipline, at the line:
LAND DIST PROC ..APPLY
Pause long enough to decide on your alternates
R/W length and Wx. Then continue with status to
Its logical end.
In real life the failure does not always occur within
25 miles of dep r/w!!
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Old 18th Feb 2008, 21:44
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All,

In my previous post I stated that "Only after announcing "ECAM actions completed." would we refer to the QRH for additional information such as speed increments, landing configuration and distance."

However, there are two cases when our company procedures would have us leave the ECAM Procedures early.

The first is upon reaching 'Engine relight initiate' in the ENG 1(2) Fail ECAM procedure. Our call would be to "Stop ECAM" and then call for the QRH Checklist for 'Engine Relight In Flight".

The second is if the cockpit crew suspect smoke is coming from the avionics, air conditioning or cabin equipment, if there is an 'Avionics Smoke' ECAM, or if there is smoke, or the smell of smoke, in the cockpit. For these cases we have a QRH checklist that leads us through a checklist designed to find and hopefully eliminate the hazard.

In all other cases of ECAM smoke warnings, such as CARGO and LAV we follow the ECAM procedures.

best regards,

Bruce Waddington
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Old 18th Feb 2008, 22:16
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If the a/c (320, CAE sim) is perfectly stable and balanced on the approach, you'll need a bee's dick of fwd pressure on the stick at about 200 feet as you hit ground effect to stay on profile.

Reference a post above re putting flap out overhead on a reversal (NBD,VOR) - are you not much better heading out clean to give youself room (staying less than 240kts of course) then flap 1 out with 20 seconds left before the turn, then flap 2 entering turn, etc? You get that bit further out, the turn is not as tight and more room to descend at a slower rate.
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Old 3rd Dec 2010, 10:18
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Link starting the APU / XPDR to 'TA only' with the ELEC page while reviewing secondaries after an engine out.

NITS brief format works well for ATC too following your decision-making / DODAR. Open questions during a DODAR in my experience have really helped open up the situation and lead to a better performance.
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Old 4th Dec 2010, 17:55
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Engine stall, pum pum, fluctuating rpms...

- After confirming with PNF which engine is affected, retard gently to idle
- FMA will prompt you to advance the other to MCT stop
- if after TOFF, follow EOSID
- once stalls are out, ask for QRH checklist
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Old 4th Dec 2010, 18:15
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I forgot

The annoying Master Caution with single chime every few seconds...

check the FMA for a THR LK. Then the PF has to set thrust manually. Cautions don't stop till he moves the levers. If Captainis PF and does not take over thrust control, tell him to do it until he realises thrust is manual now. Surprisingly, many refuse to accept that fact and just ignore it. I wonder why...
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Old 8th Dec 2010, 22:33
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Would go along with all of the above except point 14.

If you tune any ILS when flying a NPA then you will get a check appr guidance message. On FMS2 equipped aircraft selecting the ILS on an NPA will cause the VDEV to be obscured which is inconvenient on a conventional NPA and absolutely forbidden for an RNAV. This 'tune a random ILS' is therefore regarded as bad practice by most and is to be discouraged.
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Old 8th Dec 2010, 23:38
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320 driver
I dont think Desi pilot is saying to SELECT the ILS p/b on the FCU but rather to put in a pseudo freq and correct inbound course ( of the NPA ) into the ILS field on the RADNAV page.
If you then select ILS presentation for the approach the green ( NDB ) needle will sit in the middle of the ILS rose and corrections left or right are instinctive.
The PFD will display the donut/brick dependent on FMS state.
Works really well using VOR field as well.
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