We just had our final progress check today, and it concludes the training flights that work towards the LST (License Skills Test). Â This simulator session was designed to build confidence and also as check to see how we would perform on the LST. Â The profile flown is very similar to what would be expected in the LST.
We had a normal take off and then enroute we experienced a couple of failures. Â The failures were a source-off light due to a generator malfunction and whilst going through the checklist for this item, we encountered an APU fire, which we had to put out with memory items. Â This left us with only one AC electrical source other than the standby power. Â We decided to return to Dublin, and so we formed a plan, gave the NITS briefing, and the passenger announcement. Â The NITS briefing is a special and structured briefing given to the senior cabin crew member which allows them to prepare the cabin for a non-normal situation. Â NITS stands for nature, intention, time and specials. Â We returned to Dublin for a non-precision approach with a circle to land, which we had to go around from due to the runway being blocked, and then we returned with vectors for a raw data (i.e. without automation and any flight directors) approach, which we landed from. Â We were then given another take-off from which we had an engine fire and had to return for a single engine ILS, the first one which we had to go around from due to an ATC request, and then for the next one, we landed. Â The last thing we practiced was a rejected take-off, which went well.
I’m quite happy with how session 8 went, and feel much more confident for the LST. Â The LST will include a profile very similar to this session with a few more maneuvers such as TCAS RAs (where we move to avoid collision with another aircraft) and the failures will be quite random, so as it could happen in real-life, we won’t know what we’ll be getting!