- Maintain a good exercise program (which enhances mental ability).
- Practice.
- Be confident but not cocky, and build confidence by preparing for the proper tests.
- Stay calm under fire. Timed tests are designed so that you may not finish them in the allotted time period. You should not be concerned if time seems to be slipping away.
- Listen and read instructions carefully.
- Always do the easy questions first; you get credit for all the answers you are sure of, and some of these questions may lead you to the correct answers of harder questions.
- Know how much time you have to complete a test. You should determine how much time you have for each question and not exceed that limit.
- Use your wristwatch (with a second hand) to help you monitor time.
- Avoid spending a lot of time on one question. If you should get stuck, go on to the next question. If you complete the exam, go back to the questions you did not answer the first time around. On multiple choice tests, you may eliminate several of the choices at once. For those less obvious choices, there usually is a more nearly correct answer. In some cases, no perfect answer will be given; choose the best one. It may also help to find the key word or phrase in the question. This key word or phrase may be underlined or italicized. Knowing whether or not you will be penalized for incorrect answers can help; if there is a penalty attached to wrong answers, keep guessing to a minimum. Don't fret over seemingly ambiguous questions; keep going. (A caution: Do not get the idea that you see a "pattern" in the alphabetical order of answers. There will not be one.)
Before taking a test, ask the administrator how the test will be scored. You may or may not be penalized for guessing. If the scoring does not penalize for wrong answers, always guess. You should not guess, however, if you will get more points taken off for a wrong answer than for answering the question correctly.
Another situation calling for a guess is that in which you get more points for the right answer and/or you get points only for right answers and lose an equal number of points for wrong answers. Then you should guess if you can eliminate some wrong answers. If you are unsure of an answer, in many cases the first thing that comes to mind is correct. Also, if you can narrow down the selection of answers to two out of four, then by guessing, you have at least a 50/50 chance of choosing the right answer.
The Simulator Check Ride
Companies generally give simulator check rides in simulators programmed to display their home base. However, most simulators can be programmed to display a variety of airports.
As you approach the simulator check ride phase, you must hone your basic instrument flying skills. If already employed as a pilot, you should use your present situation to help fine-tune basic skills. If you are not flying, you should rent an airplane or a desktop simulator to prepare. If you have never flown a large turbojet airplane or a simulator, your previous experience (or lack of it) will be taken into consideration. The evaluator is not looking for proficiency unless you currently fly the type of airplane in which you are being tested. He will look for basic instrument flying skills. In any case, a pilot should be able to handle basic instrument flight maneuvers: straight and level, level turns, straight climbs and descents, climbing and descending turns, steep turns, acceleration and deceleration. If you are type-rated and current in the airplane, the evaluator may expect you to fly to ATP standards. If you have flown only light single-engine airplanes, the evaluator may look only for the way you make corrections and decisions and make sure you demonstrate normal learning patterns during the evaluation.
In your daily flying, you must strive for perfection. You should concentrate on smoothness, accuracy and precision. If you have an autopilot or flight director, you should not use it except when the technology is absolutely necessary. Hands-on flying will provide the concentrated basic instrument practice essential to success.
If you have access to a jet simulator, you definitely should take advantage of it (consider renting one). You should fly it, sit in it. Even observing others operating the simulator can help you get a good overall view of what you will be doing during your evaluation flight. Observing another crew's pre-simulator briefing is an excellent way of learning jet flying techniques. Desktop simulators also can help improve a pilot's instrument scan.
A practice session in a motion-visual jet simulator is the ultimate preparation for your pre-employment simulator check ride. If you are not sure where you can rent a simulator, you can browse through an issue of Career Pilot or Business Commercial Aviation. Many of the flight schools and companies that rent their simulators advertise in these and other aviation magazines.
If you have access to a jump seat on any airline, you should use it to observe how the airplane is operated by that company. On the trip to the simulator evaluation, the crew may allow you to observe them. You should observe even if you cannot get on the same equipment upon which you will be tested. Flying in the cockpit on any airline or transport jet can help a pilot get an overview of large jet operations and airline crew coordination.
One important fact to remember is that the simulator is part of the hiring and screening process. The pilot should dress and act as if this test were an interview. Several companies ask interview questions during the simulator check ride. You also must pay close attention to personal hygiene. You can be under a lot of stress during the check ride; every precaution should be taken to remain socially acceptable.
