British Airways Pilot Recruitment
Simulator Notes for DEP Candidates
Introduction
We look forward to welcoming you to Heathrow for your simulator assessment, at Cranebank or TBA. Your
simulator assessment will take place either in the 747-400 or 757-200. These notes cover both aircraft, including two
variants of the 747 – you do not need to prepare for the 747-400 GE ('747#3' simulator) unless specifically
advised by the recruitment team.
For the purposes of the assessment exercise, both aircraft will be operated in only the most basic modes; no
knowledge of the aircraft systems, avionics, or navigation system is expected or required. You will receive a full
briefing on aircraft instruments, flight controls and autopilot operation.
The navigation map display will not be available; instead raw data VOR, NDB and ILS information alone will be
used. On the 757, no use will be made of the flight management computers; on the 747 they will be used only to tune
radio aids. Auto-throttle and flight director will not be available for the exercise. Basic autopilot modes will be
available above transition altitude.
Adherence to the pitch and power settings given in these notes should produce consistent and accurate results. In both
aircraft, your workload will be considerably reduced if you keep the aircraft in trim! Due to the under-slung engines,
both aircraft have a noticeable pitch-power couple.
The purpose of the exercise is for you to demonstrate your ability to handle the aircraft, as well as your ability to
manage the flight with appropriate use of CRM. There may therefore be a non-normal event for you to manage at
some stage of the flight – this will not be a technical problem. For this reason, no ‘emergency briefing’ will be
required or expected during the assessment.
Two sectors will be flown during the assessment; one as Captain and one as Co-Pilot. You may operate as Captain
from either seat. Whatever your current rank, as Captain in this exercise you will be responsible for leading the crew,
and managing a safe, legal, and efficient operation. For both Captain and Co-Pilot, CRM is a key element of the
assessment exercise, including (but not limited to) situational awareness, problem solving, decision making,
leadership, and teamwork.
The following notes should be read and digested prior to the exercise. Please note that the procedures here detailed are
not the standard operating procedures for the relevant aircraft type.
Checklist Usage
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A checklist is attached, which is the same for all aircraft types.
Checklists are ‘challenge and response’.
PF calls for the checklist. PM then reads the checklist items, and PF responds (from memory).
Take-Off
747 RR
747 GE
757
Takeoff Flap
Takeoff Thrust
Vr
Rotation Attitude
V2
Acceleration Att.
20
20
15
1.55 EPR
91% N1
1.50 EPR
130 kt
130 kt
135 kt
12.5°
12.5°
15°
143 kt
143 kt
140 kt
8°
8°
10°
When cleared for take-off, advance the thrust levers slightly, and then call for PM to set takeoff thrust. Keep the
aircraft on the runway centreline using the rudder pedal steering. At Vr, rotate the aircraft to the initial rotation
attitude at a rate of 2 degrees per second. Once a positive rate of climb has been achieved, call for “gear up”. Adjust
the pitch attitude to maintain a speed of V2 + 10 kt to V2 + 25 kt.
At acceleration altitude of 1,000 ft above the aerodrome, lower the nose to approximately that shown in the table, set
the speed bug to 250 kt, and allow the aircraft to accelerate, retracting the flaps on schedule. Flap retraction and
extension schedules will be explained in the pre-exercise briefing. Once the flaps are fully retracted, PM can select the
landing gear to ‘off’ and complete the 'After Take-Off Checklist'.
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Climb and Cruise
747 RR
747 GE
757
250 kt Cruise
300 kt Cruise
Approximate Fuel Burn
3.5° 1.17 EPR
3.5° 62% N1
3.5° 1.17 EPR
2° 1.22 EPR
2° 68% N1
2° 1.17 EPR
10,000 kg/hr
10,000 kg/hr
4,000 kg/hr
Climb thrust is the same as takeoff thrust and climb speeds are 250 kt below 10,000 ft and 300 kt at 10,000 ft and
above. Cruise speed below 10,000 ft is 250 kt. At and above 10,000 ft cruise speed is 300 kt. Approximate pitch and
thrust settings, as well as approximate fuel burns, are shown in the table above.
Descent
747 & 757
Thrust
300 kt Descent Pitch
300 kt Descent ROD
250 kt Descent Pitch
250 kt Descent ROD
Idle
1° nose down
2000-2500 fpm
1° nose up
1500 fpm
Prior to commencing descent, complete the ‘Before Descent Checklist’. Descent speeds are 300 kt at and above
10,000 ft and 250 kt below 10,000 ft. Approximate pitch attitudes and resultant rates of descent are shown in the table
above. Rates of descent can be increased by the use of speedbrake, or reduced by the application of thrust.
Holding and Intermediate Approach
Holding Configuration
747 RR
747 GE
757
Flap 5
Flap 5
Flap 1
Intermediate Approach Configuration
6.5° 1.20 EPR
6.5° 65% N1
6° 1.15 EPR
Flap 10
Flap 10
Flap 5
7° 1.21 EPR
7° 66% N1
7° 1.18 EPR
Approaching your destination airfield, reduce speed as necessary. The 'minimum clean' speed is shown on the speed
tape as 'UP' (747) or 'F' (757). Do not reduce speed below this value without selecting flap.
Should holding be required, this should be done at 200 kt. The flap setting and approximate pitch and thrust settings
are shown in the table above. The ‘intermediate approach’ configuration should be flown at 180kt, and must be
achieved before turning onto final approach.
ILS Final Approach
Gear Down, Flap 20 Target
747 RR
747 GE
757
160 kt
160 kt
150 kt
Final Approach Configuration
155 kt
155 kt
140 kt
3° 1.14 EPR
3° 60% N1
2.5° 1.14 EPR
At 1.5 dots fly-up (or a distance of 2 nm to glideslope intercept) select gear down, flap 20, and reduce speed towards
the target shown above. At glideslope interception, select flap 25 and the appropriate speed. Call for the ‘Landing
Checklist’.
Go-Around
Call “go-around, flap 20”, select thrust to takeoff thrust (see above) and rotate towards the initial takeoff attitude.
When a positive rate of climb is achieved, select landing gear up. The climb out speed should be between the final
approach speed, and final approach speed + 25 kt. Acceleration altitude is 1,000 ft above the airfield; accelerate and
retract flaps as per the takeoff schedule. Call for the ‘After Take-off Checklist’.
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DEP Recruitment Checklist
Before Take-Off
♦ Flight Controls ................................... Checked
♦ Flaps ................................................... ____ Set
♦ Speeds ............................................... Set
♦ Altimeters........................................... QNH ____, Aa Set
♦ Trim .................................................... Set By Instructor
After Take-Off
♦ Landing Gear ..................................... Up & Off
♦ Flaps ................................................... Up
♦ Altimeters........................................... Standard & Crosschecked
Before Descent
♦ Briefing ............................................... Completed
♦ Minima ................................................ Set & Crosschecked
♦ Autobrakes ........................................ 3
Approach
♦ Altimeters........................................... QNH ____
Landing
♦ Speedbrakes ...................................... Armed
♦ Landing Gear ..................................... Down
♦ Flaps ................................................... 25
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