WHAT IS "THE BOX" OR TO OTHERS, "THE STIMULATOR"

Transport Canada stipulates that pilots of Transport Catagory aircraft have to undergo training with a subsequent "test" every 6 months. This test is known as the "PPC" or Pilot Proficiency Check. Now, since Transport Canada can't be everywhere all the time monitoring and testing pilots everywhere, airlines are able to designate their own "in house" training pilots who "self monitor" their own pilot base. So, two Skyservice training Captains will be training and testing myself and the other pilot I'm paired with this week. Day one consists of a training day. On this day we brief for 1 1/2 hours on changes that have occured in the flying "biz" that effect safety. Also, emergencies such as flight control problems, fires, electrical anomolies and a multitude of other nasty things are discussed and reviewed. Today's training consisted of engine fires on take-off, anti-ice problems, a cargo compartment fire and some challenging navigation problems. There was a day when most of this training was simulated on the aircraft itself but these days simulators are the norm because its safer to carry out emergencies and far cheaper to operate. Simulators are very sophisticated state-of-the-art "cockpits" set high on powerful hydraulic jacks that simulate acceleration, deceleration, turns and so on. They even have views outside the aircraft. These views are computer generated and projected on screens that wrap around the cockpit, simulating an amazingly realistic outside world. Here is a good view of an approach to landing in a simulator. Also, we have to practice landings in very poor weather. One type of approach and landing is known as a CAT III ILS. CAT III stands for Catagory three. In lay-men's terms...it means that we don't need to see the runway to land the airplane. ILS stands for Instrument Landing System (more on that in a later Blog). Here are two CAT III landing video's (one) and (two). Below is an old video of the boy's and I flying a Canadaian Forces C130 Hercules simulator back in 2005. Well tomorrow is the PPC with more emergencies to deal with!!