Passing Simulator Interviews

[Porch]

Just wondering what prep pilots do for major airline simulator interviews? I've been lucky enough to get interviews at the airlines I target. I excel on the tech written and the panel interviews. When it comes to the sim, I blow it and end up not getting the offer. It has happened more that once and that's why I'm concerned. I do excellent on line & PC's and never had a problem in the training environment. I've been an IOE/LCA for over 5 years. Its the same stuff. The interview sims are difficult to handle and I'm getting out of parameters on the raw data ILS's. Sometimes basic straight and level... I know! Its pretty frustrating and it has cost me three jobs. I'm questioning my ability as a pilot. What is puzzling me is that I've never had a problem in another sim arena. Only interviews... I would be grateful for advice, I am getting another sim chance for my dream job & I don't want to blow it again. I'm freakin!

 

[AlbieF15]

Several folks out there offer various sim prep courses, including our business. Alteon, Higher Power, and other companies might also have some products.

IMHO, sim training is for two reasons. First--the obvious--is to give you some practice at flying a sim similar to what you will be evaluated in so you can get a bit more comfortable with the mechanics of the process. Next--if you know you nailed it in practice, you should have the CONFIDENCE to nail it when it counts--your interview.

I had several KC-10 pilots do a DC-10 prep with us before FDX interviews. Why? They KNEW the plane, but they also knew that getting help and objective feedback from someone familiar with the process meant they would be good to go when they got the chance.

Biggest sim evals I see these days are for Cathay, Emirates, and some of the Asian companies. Most American pax carriers don't use a sim eval anymore. FedEx and UPS, however, still put guys through a basic sim screening.

Good luck. Fortune favors the prepared...

 

[FBN0223]

Sim tips that help
1) Relax
2) Easy on the yoke, especially pitch.
3) In your scan always come back to the ADI
4) Know some basic power settings. Ex The DC9 uses 70% N1 on the ILS. Also don't stare at the engine instruments when making power changes. If you need a little more power add a knob width.
5) Holding. Know how to get into a hold using the proper entry/procedures. No winging it. Have some technique for entering the hold that's accurate and easy for you to figure out in a pinch. Remember holding speeds and entry call outs. Holding is where most sim sessions are screwed up.
6) You're always going to make a few errors so stay in the saddle and keep doing your best.
7) Relax...this is most important.

good luck

FBN

 

[Rough67]

Go to a local Flight school and rent a frasca 141 or 142. Do 1 hour 2 times per week for 2 weeks. Fly the thing at 180 initial 160 intermediate and 140 final approach speeds. Each hour do a different departure, hold (non published at NDB or VOR), one approach and missed.... throw an arc in there somewhere. After the 2 weeks you will feel a lot better about it all. I know the Frasca sim thing seems generic/not a good sim... etc.. but to me it sounds that you don't feel too confident with your scan, and those little things will do the trick. Try it out,... other than a few bucks.. it can't hurt. Not sure if you're flying around glass, and its not a dc-9 or 727 sim, but it will do the trick.

 

[BoilerUP]

Emerald Coast is money well spent, IMO...

 

[eaglesview]

I would suggest doubling your listed flight time and get your total time up to two hours.

 

[lionflyer]

Buy a cheap version of MS Flight Sim. You can find it on Amazon and Ebay. You can pick up a joystick or a flight yoke pretty cheap too. < $100 for everything. It worked for me. The Frasca's good too. Don't waste your money on those high priced Sim Preps (unless you're interviewing with UPS)

 

[Porch]

I would suggest doubling your listed flight time and get your total time up to two hours.

LoL! Every thread someone comes up with a good one from out of no where. Looks like you got this one! Thanks for the laugh. I have about 10K & in the airbus now. Which isn't helping. Although the last interview was in the bus.

Thanks for all the great tips guys. Keep um coming. I'm going to beat this thing! I liked the idea about renting a cheap sim every week. I think it may be a great time to reintroduce myself to basic instrument flying.

Thanks!

 

[CatfishVT9]

I second the idea of the local sim. When I interviewed with Airtran, I had been out of the cockpit for 6 months and did about 4 sessions at the local flight school on their sim. I flew several "Basic Instrument" maneuvers (timed turns and descent/climb profiles) I remembered from my Navy days in addition to numerous approaches. Bottom line is that it made the sim check a cake walk.

Also, do you know the profile of the ride? Seems most places run the same profile or a small variation every time.

Good luck.

 

[JT12345]

The Flightsim yoke and MS flightsim worked for me. I hadn't flown for a year prior to a job a while back. This setup allowed me to get everything from the trim buttons and the flight director to match the airplane. The closer your practice sessions are to the real device the better. If the sim has glass then practice with glass. If it has dials then practice with dials. There are layouts out there for just about every airplane. This worked for me. I practiced stalls and V1 cuts even, and when I hit the class d sim during training I was within standards on every manuver on the 1st try. Anything that can save time in the class d sim is a good thing because you have more time to devote to other mistakes.

 

[BoilerUP]

A $400-600 Level D sim prep is WAY overkill for a RJ job...but if that relatively paltry sum gets you the brass ring major airline job you've always desired, isn't it a wise investment?

A Frasca 142 or similar is certainly better than nothing if basic attitude instrument flying needs brushed up...but I'd think a level C/D sim prep would be be cheap insurance against boning up a sim eval and always wondering "What if I had done prep..."

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I was talking to an Interview captain the other day on a flight and I can tell you that at least here on ANA they are looking for other sings that are not only how you fly the sim. these individuals that do evaluations for the most part are very experienced instructors that have spent a good portion of their careers doing evaluations so they look at how you behave in the cockpit environment, how you interact with your PNF, how you handle the mistakes that you will inevitably make in the sim because you are nervous. You have to examine not only the flying part but also the personal aspect of your sim performance, what is the confidence level that you transmit to others? are your commands clear? do you talk to yourself during the exercises? you know, mumbling "I'll do this, then I'll do that" during the evaluation, did everyone in the sim understood the command you just gave? remember that sim evaluations are as much a performance for the guys behind you as it is you actually flying the sim. The advise on your basic flying skills is a good one, but have some professional evaluators review your personal behavior as well, so that you also transmit the "vibe" that evaluators are looking for.

Good luck

 

[Porch]

After what I've been through... I'm doing it all! MS flight sim coupled with Level D and the dang frasca! I never want to be the goose leaving the gaggle again. Not only does it crush your confidence, you've lost a job. Its a horrible feeling & its tough to pull out of once it's starts. Not knowing and thinking I could do it probably has cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars and buckets full of grief. I wish I realized this earlier. I hope it doesn't happen to anyone who is reading this... Its so important to know your limits and when its time to spend some cash to get the job done right the first time. Again, Thanks for your comments.

 

[Porch]

I was talking to an Interview captain the other day on a flight and I can tell you that at least here on ANA they are looking for other sings that are not only how you fly the sim. these individuals that do evaluations for the most part are very experienced instructors that have spent a good portion of their careers doing evaluations so they look at how you behave in the cockpit environment, how you interact with your PNF, how you handle the mistakes that you will inevitably make in the sim because you are nervous. You have to examine not only the flying part but also the personal aspect of your sim performance, what is the confidence level that you transmit to others? are your commands clear? do you talk to yourself during the exercises? you know, mumbling "I'll do this, then I'll do that" during the evaluation, did everyone in the sim understood the command you just gave? remember that sim evaluations are as much a performance for the guys behind you as it is you actually flying the sim. The advise on your basic flying skills is a good one, but have some professional evaluators review your personal behavior as well, so that you also transmit the "vibe" that evaluators are looking for.

Good luck

Great advice! Awesome. I think being confident in your skills and not fighting the sim will bring out the attributes you mention. Another important thing to focus on. Thanks!

 

[Ty Webb]

Hmmm, 14 posts in this string, and it bears little resemblance to the flightinfo.com we all know and love . . . OK, I'll go first:

1) Spikey-haired, frosted-tipped, Ipod-and-backpack-wearing Pilots aren't worth their Doc Martens. (Discuss)

2) Conservative-Obsessed Captains should have been aborted.

3) Hat Police versus RJDC

4) My airline can beat up your airline

5) Boeing versus Airbus- Which would Jesus fly?

:laugh: :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: