Flight Safety training for Caravan

[scubabri]

Can anyone give me the scoop on the Caravan training at Flight Safety in Wichita?

I'm kinda looking for what the sim training will be like and what they have you do.

sb

 

[labbats]

Sounds like someone finally got a job. Congratulations!

 

[scubabri]

contigent on me passing FS and a checkride I'm taking no chances, so I am preparing early.

sb

 

[English]

Congrats Scubari!

While I can't help answer your question, I'd like to emphasize that you get your instrument skills down before you go to FSI. I'm sure you are already thinking about it, but I'd hate to see you wash out again over something within your control. Maybe go up with a CFI for a few hours a couple of days before you go. You'll have enough new stuff going on around you that you'll want to not be worrying about which side is up.

Congrats and let us know how you like the Caravan!

 

[HAZ-MAT]

An idea of what to expect...
Possibly 3 days of Systems using a powerpoint presentation, or just going thru the POH. Two hours in the CPT doing your start up and shut down flows. Recognizing hot and hung starts. and having annunciatiors illuminate and you going thru the immediate action items, or executing the QRH. Then it will probably be 2 or 3 days in the simulator. Hours could be as early as 10am or as late at Midnight. Do not fly the sim like you fly your 172 (Man Handling) . Both sims are very sensitive and if you use the correct amount of right rudder it will stop the rolling trend of uncoordinated flight. First sim will probably be just getting used to the plane, Stalls, Steeps ect. Second sim will either be Powerplant Failures, or Electrical Failures. Third sim will be a combination of the first two, and you'll probably do Windshear recoveries, flight in turbulence, full aircraft high density altitude (Salt Lake City at 40 degrees C) with an engine failure after takeoff. And finally the best for last Icing. Loading your aircraft up to about 300-400 lbs of ice and show you how unresponsive it is. Congrats on the new job, and best of luck on the training out at ICT.

Edit: CPT Cockpit Procedures Trainer (basically a mock up of the real cockpit, all dials move and all, but thats it)

 

[skylane58]

You will probably go to ground school in the morning, break for lunch then the CBT for an hour or so, then the sim for an hour of flying and an hour watching the other guy fly. Last you you will de-brief for an hour or so. That will be the layout for the 5 days of the course. The content will be what HAZ-MAT has stated. The guys there are great, easy to get along with, and excellent teachers. I was there in FEB and thats mostly how it went. You should do great, so have fun and good luck with the job.

 

[CUEBOAT]

What does CBT stand for?

 

[JB74]

Computer Based Training???

 

[FracCapt]

Second sim will either be Powerplant Failures, or Electrical Failures.

Do they really do full engine failures in the sim? I can understand engine malfunctions...but full failures? It could only be beneficial, IMO, if they set you up so that you can make the airport from where the engine fails. The graphics aren't really good enough on the sims I've been in(all level C and D) to do forced landings in a field with any sense of realism. To me that would be similar to doing double engine failures on a twin engine turboprop/jet in the sim.

 

[FracCapt]

What does CBT stand for?

I think they meant CPT....Cockpit Procedures Trainer... a cockpit mockup..

 

[501261]

Make sure you know which building you're going to. The Caravan building is next to the Citation building, just north of the airline terminal. The Lear building is on the other side of the airport. While the King Air building is over at Beech field.... they're all Flight Safety Wichita.

So don't be like some Dumba$$ (me) that showed up at Beech Field for Lear school (I'd always gone to Tucson).

I’ve never flown a Caravan, but I’m sure the sim is a sim, so let the autopilot do the work for you.

 

[501261]

To me that would be similar to doing double engine failures on a twin engine turboprop/jet in the sim.

Seems like every couple of years they give me a double flameout without restart. It's one of those things they do on the last day when all the boxes have been checked, and they need to kill a few more minutes so that you get you're "money's worth."

It's actually kind of fun. The scenario they used last time is you've just gone around during the "wind shear" drill, you’re now above the airport at 6000' AGL and poof both your engines just got hail damage as you pop out the other side of the T-storm, so you're now in VMC and you just glide it in.

 

[HAZ-MAT]

This wont make sense till you are done..

Engine Failures yes, as a result of a Chip Detector light illuminated and resulting in some blades seperating. Fuel Resivoir low annunc... meaning that you have about 30 seconds of fuel left... resulting in an engine failure... Ng roll back and or P3 leak... causing a reduction in power... which is recoverable. Thats why you'll have powerplant failures... so you know when its Fixable, and when its not Fixable.

 

[scubabri]

First day.

Well, completed my first day at FS for the Caravan.

730am - 12am Ground
930pm - 3am SIT/SIM

I don't think it could get much worse than that. Sigh, somebody hates me.

The first sim session was steep turns, did ok, mostly trying to figure out how to get the d*mn thing trimmed out, approach and t/o stalls, ILS JFK 22R with a missed, did really good on this, and then a ILS 4R Circle to land 31 did really good on this as well.

I hope today that I can spend more time on the steep turns and stalls. I think I'll just let the autopilot get it trimed out and then take it over. It seemed that I couldn't get the roll and yaw trim balanced. The sim is really cool, very pitch sensitive, but I think I'll get it under control today. Today's lesson will be Fuel, Electrical and Flap abnormals.

Only 4 more days of no sleep and I'll be done.

sb

 

[ShadowFlight]

P3 leak... causing a reduction in power... which is recoverable.

Unless you are like me (who had a minor mental meltdown) and forgot about the emergency power lever.

Those farm fields in the sim sure look real!!

Peace

SF

 

[FN FAL]

Do they really do full engine failures in the sim? I can understand engine malfunctions...but full failures? It could only be beneficial, IMO, if they set you up so that you can make the airport from where the engine fails. The graphics aren't really good enough on the sims I've been in(all level C and D) to do forced landings in a field with any sense of realism. To me that would be similar to doing double engine failures on a twin engine turboprop/jet in the sim.

Actually, I have had good luck with the graphics in the PanAm level D caravan sim. In one of my recurrency flights, I came in too fast to land on the non-towered field that was just "coincidentally" near where the engine was failed on me. The set you up so you have enough time to spiral and set up your emergency pattern. Anywhoo...I came in too fast...the plane really does do a good glide with the prop feathered. So, I spied a field just off of the departure end of the runway I was not going to make and made an off airport landing. With a little finesse flying the sim, you don't burn in. Not what we wanted to see as far as making the field...but it worked.

Looks like haz-mat has it all down, as far as what you'll see in the sim scubari...good luck with your initial, and relax a little. The sim sessions are all designed to get you to learn something and get you up to speed for the check ride. I think when it's all said and done, the ride will be much more funner than some of the first sim sessions. Good luck Scubari!

 

[wingnutt]

the ride will be much more funner...

...ummmm, yea, what he said

but my favorite was their idea of a short field. basically taking off/landing on a taxiway with a hanger as your "obstacle"

 

[scubabri]

I had a good time tonight, low oil pressure on start, hung start, flap failures, electrical failures, engine failures on departure (only crashed once) Short field t/o and landing.. I think I broke the sim on landing, suction failure during a gps app, ils circle to land, and a regular ils down to mins.


I finally got the steep turns figured out, I was really overflying the sim, once I slowed down, things stabilized. Being able to use the auto pilot to set up approaches and get the airplane stabilized is a bonus as well, but once I slowed down, things came a lot easier.

Tomorrow, more engine related emergencies.

 

[Super_Cub_2414P]

Steep turns are the easiest maneuver in the book, as soon as you see the VSI needle move the slightest bit from 0 start making corrections, the VSI is the primary instrument for steep turns, 90 percent of your scan should be VSI and you'll nail them every time.

 

[scubabri]

WOO HOO!! 135 ride is done! That's it!! No more f*cked up sleep schedule.


The ride was JFK 060 10dme, steep turns, stalls, vectors to 22L ILS with a missed, vectors for the LOC 4R circle 31 full stop, GPS 4R missed, vectors ILS 4R auto pilot full stop.

My steep turns were rock on, but I got a little squirelly on the missed approches, just need to practice them more I suppose.

But I'm happy to be done, I am going to sleep now.

sb

 

[FN FAL]

WOO HOO!! 135 ride is done! That's it!! No more f*cked up sleep schedule.


The ride was JFK 060 10dme, steep turns, stalls, vectors to 22L ILS with a missed, vectors for the LOC 4R circle 31 full stop, GPS 4R missed, vectors ILS 4R auto pilot full stop.

My steep turns were rock on, but I got a little squirelly on the missed approches, just need to practice them more I suppose.

But I'm happy to be done, I am going to sleep now.

sb

I told you the sim ride would be funner. Congratulations...now the learning really begins. Sleep fast.

 

[English]

Congrats Scubari! Passing this checkride now truly puts AMF behind you. Enjoy your new gig, keep studying and learning, and don't get complacent!

 

[LJDRVR]

Congratulations!

Scubari,

Awesome! The Caravan is a superb airplane, I learned more the first three months flying those than I had in all my previous flying. Many fond memories. Make sure you spend some time talking to the old heads before winter. What you've heard about ice really is no BS. I'd be willing to bet FN FAL and HAZ MAT would be hapy to provide you with some of their experiences (I know they've had them....) and maybe impart a bit of the proper technique/mindset.

Have fun buddy!

 

[HAZ-MAT]

I would love to share my experiences with anyone who would like to know some interesting stuff (Just PM me). Unfortunatly, my last Van flight was on the 4th of June. So i guess you could almost look at it as a passing of the torch to Scubabri.
Congrats Dude

 

[huncowboy]

I would love to share my experiences with anyone who would like to know some interesting stuff (Just PM me). Unfortunatly, my last Van flight was on the 4th of June. So i guess you could almost look at it as a passing of the torch to Scubabri.
Congrats Dude

Why not just post it here? I have nothing to do with a caravan but I would love to read some stories about it.