Ask the Captain: How flight simulators enhance safety

Question: Are flight simulators really a reliable indicator of how a pilot will perform under a real in-flight emergency?

-- Submitted by reader Bob, Tampa

A: Generally, yes. Simulators have proven to be very good training tools. They produce stress levels similar to an actual event. The ability of a pilot to react properly under stress is carefully evaluated.

In cases where I have talked to pilots who have experienced an in-flight emergency, a common response has been "it was just like the simulator."

There have been a few pilots that did not react properly during an actual in-flight emergency. It's an ongoing challenge for training organizations to identify these individuals in simulators.

Q: What are some of the differences a pilot experiences when transitioning from a simulator to the actual aircraft?

-- Tim Sullivan, Sacramento

A: As good as simulators are there is a somewhat different "feel" between the real airplane and a simulator. The landing flare and touchdown is often a bit different. Gusty crosswinds are hard to accurately replicate in a simulator, as are ice-covered runways.

Today's simulators are technological marvels and I have felt completely comfortable in the airplane following simulator training.

Q: The Air France crash several years ago involved a high-altitude stall. The same may be true in the recent AirAsia crash. Are pilots getting sufficient training in recovering from such stalls?

-- Allen Rotz, Washington, D.C.

A: Training for pilots to recover from upset conditions, including stalls, is an ongoing effort. Simulators are used to show the proper recovery techniques. Unfortunately, some operators are reluctant and minimize this important training. Slowly the industry is addressing upset-recovery training. This is an issue I have worked on for many years (20+) and believe to be one of the areas where we as an industry can improve. There are new simulators with better aerodynamic models that more closely replicate the handling characteristics of airplanes in extreme conditions. We should incorporate these as quickly as possible. We can lower the frequency of this type of accident, and we should.

John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.