Systems and performance test...Check! (English version)

It is Saturday afternoon, I am chilling a bit after a few heavy weeks and a long night yesterday.

Yesterday we had two tests about both the systems and performance calculations. The systemstest was a 100 multiple choice questionnaire that we had to solve via a computer. The major part was quite easy after al those CBT's and the many studytime we had put in it. But like any other test there were also a few questions were the doubt struck. French people can't really be very clear when they ask questions in English. But right after the test we knew if we passed or not and the word "passed" on the screen was more than enough for me. I passed and the result didn't really bothered me that much anymore.

After a break until everybody was finished we could review the answers and right after that it was time for the performance test. The only thing we had to do was solving 10 exercises using tables and graphs. I also passed this, although I did learn again you should read your question a few times and review it because otherwise you could end up with another answer than the one they ask.

So the theoretical tests for the typerating are finished for now. Yesterday we went out for dinner with one of our instructors  in a local restaurant. At 22h at night we were still outside on the terras with a nice cosy weather while now and then a plane flew over at low altitude. The runway was right behind the restaurant. A nice cold beer with it and that is all we needed.

The past week we had to get up at 5h every morning to be in the proceduretrainer at 6h30. And after those sessions we still had our systems to study and to prepare our next sessions. So we deserved a bit of relaxing time.

We had another four sessions in the proceduretrainer this week were we mainly focussed on the several failures we can have in this aircraft. This would be failures like engine failures at certain times in a flight, electrical failures, hydraulic failures, total loss of pressure at high altitude followed by an emergency descent at a high rate of descent (which you don't really experience as it is in the proceduretrainer) and so many more.
With an Airbus the major part of the failures are handled in the same way of procedures. What you have to do is most of the times shown on one of the screens. The priorities and timing of the actions is something that can differ and that is why we are trained for different situations.

After our last session Thursday we heard from our instructor that he was very pleased with out effort, the work we put in it and the big motivation of the both of us. We were ahead from the first session and prepared for everything but of course we had to continue to work hard. And if the former head of training of Iberia (He was chief pilot on every plane he flew and had trained about 80% of the pilots stil flying for Iberia now at one time.) mentions this several times during the sessions you know you are on the right track. But we have to remain focussed and keep on working hard because we are far from finished!