Advanced Technology Aircraft Safety Survey Report - Australian ...

Provision of a FMGS for hands-on training.
Equally important was the suggestion that ‘automation philosophy’ should be explained
during the early stages of conversion training:
A course on logic behind the development of the automated systems.
Simulator
One hundred and ten respondents commented on aspects of their simulator training.
Comments were classified according to duration and quality of simulator training.
The majority of comments relating to the duration of training stated that more simulator
training should be scheduled. For example:
More sirnulator sessions, with emphasis on teaching rather than assessing the student.
Similarly, most pilots stated that the quality of simulator exercises needed improvement.
Specifically, pilots suggested improving the quality of simulation, providing better simulator
training programs (especially regarding rostering), an even flow of information (‘too much
too quickly’), more comprehensive briefings by the instructor prior to the simulator session
and practical demonstrations throughout the session, and the use of a standard syllabus. For
example:
Better use of simulator. There is a tendency to try and cover too much in too short a time. We are
expected to be proficient without sufficient training time being allocated to really feel comfortable
with abnormal operations.
Pilots offered three significant suggestions as to how their simulator training could be
improved:
1. More time should be spent concentrating on normal operations including takeoff,
descent, circuits and manual flying. For example:
More emphasis during round school and SIM endorsement on a normal line flight, with some ATC
constraints, in order to !z ecome more familiar with the FMGC.
More normal operations training in simulator during initial endorsement.
2. There should be more emphasis on automation, especially the use of various ‘modes’. For
example:
Much more simulator time concentrating on mode changes and mode awareness.
More SIM time at first on mode use of MCP in upper air work.
More time could be spent practising in the simulator with the automatic modes. Too often we seem
to be asking ’What’s it doing now?‘
Trainin was well structured and prepared ilots well. However, a little more simulator experience in
basic ing using all the FMA modes wou P d have been helpful without additional pressure of nonnorma
7 situations to manage.
Hands-on training in the simulator on profiles requiring FMC selection/manipulation and mode
control panel selection/operation.
3. Free time, or free-play simulator sessions would have improved their training. Some (8%)
commented that post-training simulator practice or self-help sessions would have been
beneficial:
Free-time simulation sessions during which individual pilots could practice the aspect of flight they
feel needs improving.
Having time in simulators to experiment without being graded or rated in training records.
Simulator available for self-help programs is very good improvement.
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