British Airways Simulator Assessment B747

Instructor Briefing

Please familiarise yourself with the document ‘Customer Pre‐Briefing Material ‐ British
Airways Simulator Assessment

​
If you have any questions, or problems please contact instructors@v1aviation.co.uk or call us
on [phone number].

Introduction

The primary objective of this practice assessment is to prepare the candidate for a simulator
assessment with British Airways. In the assessment, the candidate will be given the
opportunity to demonstrate skills in basic handling, instrument flying, procedures as well as
BA focused Notechs and failure management.

Format

The candidate will either be paired with the trainer, or with a sandbag (should they have
brought someone along to perform this role). Depending on candidate preference, the
candidate may operate half of the exercise as Pilot Flying (PF) from the Left or Right Hand
Seat, and half as Pilot Monitoring (PM), or act as PF for the whole session. Discuss with the
candidate which seat they are going to operate from on the assessment.
The instructor will operate the simulator, acting as trainer and assessor. Before entering the
simulator, there will be a comprehensive crew briefing, which allows the candidate to review
the content of the exercises, the navigation system and displays. Any questions about the
exercise should be asked at this stage.

 
 

 
v1aviation.co.uk  
 
 
 
 
 
Pre‐Briefing Material

Briefing

The briefing should be split into three areas.

Technical Briefing
Using the bomber to familiarise the candidate with the flightdeck. Discuss all the relevant
areas but pay particular attention to:

Thrust Settings
Flight Controls
Navigation
Displays
Basic FMS programming
Profiles

Notechs and BA preferred Failure Management

Please read the section on Notechs and Failure Management. The clients will have access to
this information before the simulator session. Essentially you are probing for the level of their
knowledge.

Take time to go through a simple failure with them using the TDODAR principle. Go through
thought processes.

Introduce ​TEM

Profile of the simulator session.

Discuss the simulator session with the client and what they can expect.
Please have a plan of the session so that you can run to time. Set their expectations.

v1aviation.co.uk 
 
 
 
 
Profile Overview

Flight‐Deck setup

This section should cover;

● A briefing on the flight controls/navigational aids/instrument displays.

● Key systems and information.
● FMS
● A briefing on the trainer's role during the exercises (detailed above)

The candidate should be invited to ask any questions relating to the flight‐deck at this point.

Exercise 1

The exercises can be carried out from two Airports LHR or GLA. The exercise begins with a
manually flown SID (may be substituted with a non‐standard departure). On completion of the
SID, a series of general handling and navigational exercises should be flown. During the first
general handling exercise the trainer will discuss the following key points.

● Thrust settings
● Power and Pitch
● Inertia
● Scan
● Tracking (discuss needle and DME indications)

Exercise 2

Flow from exercise 1, Radar Vectored ILS approach to a go around, followed by a second ILS
to a full stop landing. The exercises given are to be optimised to provide the opportunity to
demonstrate potential learning capacity, and rate of learning. Discuss the need to anticipate
due to the inertia of the aircraft.During this exercise prompt where necessary during periods
of high workload and facilitate when appropriate during periods of reduced workload.

Exercise 2 can be removed if time is limited.

Exercise 3

v1aviation.co.uk 
 
 
 
 
Sim Routes
LGW – STN – Divert LHR –
Route – EGLL 27R, BPK 7G, ABBOT 1F, ILS 22, Go‐around, Vectors ILS 27R EGLL
GLA – LHR – Divert MAN
Route – EGPF 23, NORBO 1H, TRN, DCS, diversion to MCT, procedure ILS 05R

Exercise 4

Development areas.

Role of the Trainer

During the exercise, the assessor may be required to perform both the roles of PF and PM.
Whilst acting as PF, the assessor should handle the aircraft in a way which allows the
candidate adequate and reasonable practice as PM. Whilst acting as PM, the assessor should
act only on the instructions of the PF, and make no effort to influence the actions of the
candidate. Standard monitoring calls should be made relating to speed, altitude, pitch, roll
etc.

If instructing from the simulator IOS, the assessor should make an effort to simulate ATC calls,
using standard phraseology. Although it is appreciated that simulated ATC can be difficult
when operating pilot monitoring, it would be beneficial, and more realistic practice for the
candidate if the assessor continued to try to simulate ATC.
In order to facilitate the demonstration of a positive learning curve, and the ability to take
instruction, the candidate should be given the opportunity to reattempt areas of the exercise,
as and when the assessors sees fit ‐ time permitting.

Assessing the candidate and providing feedback

You must assess the candidate during the exercises. Take notes and when possible provide a
hot debrief. Please take time to debrief the candidate at the end of the session and make
sure you have covered the key areas of feedback.

The key thing to remember in a simulator assessment, is that the assessors are not expecting
to see a perfect performance. Warn against being downhearted and losing confidence if the
exercise doesn’t appear to be going well.

SIMULATOR

v1aviation.co.uk 
 
 
 
 
Please be aware that all the exercises are time dependent and you will need to prioritise.
The candidate should always leave the simulator having practiced a full assessment
profile.

Simulator Setup

Following a comprehensive briefing, the candidate and assessor should enter the simulator
together to prepare for the exercise. Whilst the candidate is given the opportunity to settle
into the simulator environment, the assessor should position the simulator at the holding
point of the departure runway, with engines running and systems correctly set for departure.
Met conditions are at the discretion of the instructor but please be careful not to give the
candidate too much to think about.
The trainer should assist with seat adjustment and flight deck lighting.

Sim Profile

1. Departure
2. General Handling Exercises: To be carried out with no autothrottle or flight director.
a. 45 degree turns through 360 degrees.
b. Accelerations and decelerations.
c. Climbs and descents at specific IAS/rate.
d. Climbing turns at specific rate.
e. Intercept a radial from a beacon.
f. Basic orientation ‐ what radial are you currently on from X beacon?
g. If you were going to enter the hold at X, what entry would you use?

3. ILS Approach to go around

4. ILS Approach to full stop landing
5. Break (only on 4 hour details)
6. Reposition sim onto RWY for LOFT.
a. Sim Routes
b. LGW – STN – Divert LHR –
c. Route – EGLL 27R, BPK 7G, ABBOT 1F, ILS 22, Go‐around, Vectors ILS 27R EGLL
d. GLA – LHR – Divert MAN
e. Route – EGPF 23, NORBO 1H, TRN, DCS, diversion to MCT, procedure ILS 05R
Please use non‐technical reasons for the diversion i.e sick pax or weather
below minimums.
7. Extra time ‐ Areas for development.

Once the session has finished, please return simulator to a shutdown state at a gate. Please
leave the simulator in a tidy state.

v1aviation.co.uk