A320 Line Training - what complex/tricky aircraft related questions to ask?!

[Melissa_Bettochi]

Good afternoon people,

Currently undergoing line training on the A320. All very new stuff. Have a 10 hour round trip tomorrow and the last time I flew with this training Captain, I came away feeling like knowing nothing. Lot's of questions by him. No real explanations.

So, I'm trying to think of questions to ask the training captain that he maybe able to explain. I figure if I have to spend 10 hours then I may as well ask as many questions as possible, answers which we can both go over together during the flight.

So, if anyone has any complex, tricky, cunning, grueling A320 systems and related questions then please do list them!

Any references to the questions will help me to have a quick read up beforehand.

Much much appreciated.

[I-2021]

Hi Melissa,

The training captain, as the name suggests, is paid to be there and train you. The questions that you are asked should be a way for the both of you to focus on what needs to be covered in more depth and to confirm what you already know. If you are at the beginning of your flying career it is very important that your training captain finds a way to guide you in understanding your priorities. For instance knowing the smallest details of airplane systems and not being able to conduct an approach is useless and your training captain should focus on that, that is giving priorities. Your aim is to learn how to safely operate the airplane during line operations with a good system knowledge for your level of experience. If your trainer does not focus on getting you ready for the line but rather focuses on how many km of wires there are in the airplane, then I may think that he is not doing what he is supposed to do. Having said that, keep up working hard and enjoy your training !

[Dani]

Do you have a line training syllabus? In a paper like this, there are tons of questions he should cover, e.g. landing minimas or approach procedures. Pick out a few questions and go a bit in depth. Make some notes, so the line instructor can see that you are prepared.

[Natstrackalpha]

Tricky Questions request.

tricky, cunning, grueling A320 systems and

I don`t wish to sound rude - and I am sure you would like to ask your Training Captain
any questions to fulfil your knowledge.

To request to ask him/her "tricky questions" is a complete and utter waste of time and is pointless, flippant and childish.

The reason, I say, the reason he is asking you difficult questions is to help your knowledge aquisition on the aircraft or to see how much you know - the mere fact that you are finding the questions "difficult" probably proves that you have not studied enough.

The objective of achieving (I use this word `achieving` loosely, at this juncture) the type rating is to have a strong knowledge of the AOM, the aircraft and its operations and limitations. By asking you these questions s/he is probably ascertaining how much you do not know and therefore s/he will know how much to depend on you in the event of an emergency, or even, what to write in his/her report to Human Resources or Flight Crew Management.

This is not an Ego Game of who can catch the other person out, and who wins. He is not your boyfiend.

Also, by making the occasional "delibrate mistakes" he is testing your awareness of flying a 68+ ton aircraft with 150 lives on board - Captain! Because, like it or not Miss, when s/he is dead - you are it - so you had better start learning and quit playing games. By asking you questions, s/he knows if you have been studying or just p-----g around, in your spare time.

The fact you are doing Line Training assumes you really know your stuff and that you are reaching for good operational control of the aircraft and the flight in Normal and Non-Normal conditions - then to grow with the op and the aircraft - then to complete the necessary sectors and reach for Command ability acquired by a strong knowledge of the AOM and your experience on the flight-deck. Is is not a fashion show it is a full time trainee appointment with a view to COMMAND. you have to learn your stuff - he is not there to teach EVERY SINGLE THING, he would not have time, you also have to do it yourself, at hiome, in study, to increase your working ability, if you don`t, they won`t take you seriously, or, you may just get a rollicking, beware.

[Dan Winterland]

Here's one: If the answer is 9 Knots, what's the question?




Solution later!

[Slasher]

Q. How many blades on the engine N1?
A. Dunno - but I can tell you if there are any missing during
a walkaround.

Q. On the ground engines off. What will be the expected EPR
(or N1) target for TOGA?
A. Set Ign/Start - move throttles to TOGA - note EPR (or N1)
- move throttles back to idle - Ign/Start back to Norm.

Q. How can you set Config 1 on the ground (slats only - as in
what you get in the air) and not Config 1+F?
A. Heh heh not tellin' - but if you can answer that you (or your
destructor) certainly know your systems!

Q. How can you clear RADNAV without going through all that
CLEAR button-pushing nonsense?
A. RMP NAV Backup key press - Note RADNAV blank - return
Backup key to off.

Real slimy questions available on request!

[Slasher]

If the answer is 9 Knots, what's the question?

These?

What is the Vapp speed additive to VLS with a 27kt HW with
no autothrust, no autoland, no ice accretion, no gusts, and a
CG > 25%?

What's the V1 decrement for TO Config 2 on a contaminated
3000m+ runway with all reversers operative?

[Henrik83]

Here's one: If the answer is 9 Knots, what's the question?

Number of knots on the escape rope?

[Dan Winterland]

Correct!

(Although someone questioned this one day and counted them. Nine on one side, eight on the other! But I gather it should be nine).

[Slasher]

Number of knots on the escape rope?

Yep a slimy question alright.

DW if you said "9 knots" iso "9 Knots" it might've given a clue.

[A37575]

Here's one: If the answer is 9 Knots, what's the question?

1. You are knot to address the captain as "Mate".
2. You are knot to ask which leg the captain will give you.
3. You will knot say good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good day, cheerio, Bye Bye, see yer later, thanks, please - in your communications with ATC. Just think of the poor bloody ATC who gets a thousand greetings every day.
4 You will KNOT.....oh forget it, you get the message

[Cough]

Slasher..

Taxy in Conf 1+F. Wind engines down. PTU off, Yellow pump on, Select F0...

[Cough]

If the answer is 8 knots, what is the question (no rope here)...

[John Citizen]

Here's one: If the answer is 9 Knots, what's the question?

Question "How many knots should I tie in the rope to strangle you (the checkie who asks this question) ?"

[jimmyg]

I used to jokingly ask this question at the beginning of a training event. "If you get it right you pass your LPC"

The idea was to break the ice let them know that this is where we make mistakes, ask pertinent questions and hopefully learn something useful for when it really matters.

Relax and try to make it an open positive fun learning environmental.

[Airbus_a321]

@ melissa
so I assume, as just being a new-starter, you just want to throw him full of stupid questions, to check the knowledge of your training captain, then ?
What a poor attitude.

nothing to add on I-2021 reply

[Checkboard]

How long is the escape rope?

[AKAAB]

The simplest and most effective counter-question to a "stump the dummy" challenge is to ask, "how can I apply that knowledge to my daily operations?"

If he has a good explanation, learn from him. If he can't answer other than to declare you have to know every rivet and innocuous bit of airplane trivia about the A320, then just say thanks and move on.

[charlie83]

Slasher..

Taxy in Conf 1+F. Wind engines down. PTU off, Yellow pump on, Select F0..

Or just select Blue pump overide?

[gusting_45]

I don't condone the 'tricky question' proposition but I would also criticise the trainer who after 10 hours has such a deflated trainee that they feel like they know nothing.

Sounds more like an examiner than a trainer.