Engine out in a simulator?

[labbats]

I was curious if there were any tips on flying a simulator of a multi-engine plane with a single engine approach. I know in the real world I rely mostly on feel and dead-foot-dead-engine. But that seems impossible on a simulator.

 

[avbug]

Simulator, or FTD?

Most simulators I've been in feel just like the real thing.

Even without them, you shouldn't rely on feel to recognize and fly that airplane...as you know, relying on feel to fly instruments is a ticket to trouble. Learn to recognize the engine failure by looking at the panel. Note your engine instruments, note your turn coordinator and inclinometer, note your DG.

Part of the point of simulator-based training is that you can get exposed to new things, and that through the training, these things become intuitive. Don't worry that some of it may be new; it won't be when you're done.

 

[Astra Guy]

Labbats,

Unlike avbug I have found that non airline type simulators poorly mirror the feel of the actual aircraft. Control pressures are completely different in roll, pitch and bank. I can remember being straight and level and glancing at the PM as he was tuning something and in about five seconds I was in a 20 degree bank. Sims in this category should be considered procedural trainers. You go to the sim to get your procedures down. It is a box, after all and will not give you the seat of the pants feel you have in the aircraft. Most of the pressures are lighter and there in lies the problem. I, and many others, have commented that flying the sim feels like balancing the aircraft on a pencil head.

Think the major's sims are like this? Hell no! They mirror almost to the tee the exact control pressures that they will feel in the aircaft. It is a matter of money. Alll of these sims cost way more than the actual aircraft, to begin with.

We used to use the term "cross-check", now it is "scan" to keep the greasy side down. This scan has to be more intense in the sim. I have always found the aircraft much easier to fly than the sim...which is a good thing, in the end.

Good luck with your training!

 

[flx757]

I come exclusively from an airline background, but do a lot of time both flying and teaching in simulators. In fact, I currently am a full time sim instrcuctor at Alaska Airlines. If I could give one tip to someone doing engine out work it would be to input the correct amount of rudder to center the ball or the sky pointer on the attitude indicator, then trim the rudder input out. Then, flying an engine-out approach is a piece of cake. This lets you concentrate on flying the approach, and alleviates much of the aircraft control problems.

 

[labbats]

Center the ball or leave it a half ball width deflection towards the good engine?

 

[flx757]

Well, it's not exactly "centered", but half a ball is usually a bit much, too. The point being is to use the rudder trim to relieve the rudder pressure. It makes the aircraft control simple, and one less thing to spend a great deal of concentration on. Then you can focus your attention on flying the approach procedure instead of using a lot of your focus on aircraft control.

 

[labbats]

Thanks for the help

 

[avbug]

Some aircraft specifically call for the ball to be centered. know your aircraft, and fly accordingly.

 

[BobSmith_av8r]

I am interested as to which aircraft avbug? Do you have any examples.