I don't know if I would have dequaled about it, but he was very heavily debriefing it despite my (and my FO) protesting that it's not the way it works (and making us repeat the maneuver because we hadn't done it satisfactorily). But I'm smart enough to know when to pick my battles so I went along with his way and he was much happier. I'll play "make believe" in the sim once a year if that's what it takes (although I'd much rather spend sim time doing things that are more accurate to the real world and emergency scenarios that are really useful when flying the sim).

And you're 100% right on dialing in a lower altitude. It's just how much guys will dive to get down there right away rather than thinking about it. I've had to also explain to guys going into LAX that they might not need to use the boards and FLCH to come slamming down to 1900' when they're 20 miles out since that might take you outside the Bravo airspace (I got a bit of a thousand yard stare from my FO when I mentioned that one as he was doing it). Obviously there were no terrain issues, but I also know firsthand just how much traffic is outside the LAX Bravo airspace firsthand and didn't feel like getting multiple RAs off the GA airplanes and helicopters down there.

The more I fly the plane, the more I appreciate FPA mode. That is all.

 

I always come out of my 12 months with brown lips.

 

You guys dont hand fly with a cup of coffee in your hand?

 

This is why I like our SLIP guys, people who actually have been out there. It is funny how many things training does that aren’t practical on the line. (Example being at Vap for a non precision at the FAF)

 

I did the other day. Guess what happens in Vegas!

That wasn’t you was it?

 

I've allegedly done many things
... most of them true. But no, I wasnt in Vegas recently doin the shake n bake below 10 kilos collecting EGPWS "air medals." I've just been chillin, you know, studying, clearing PRFs, volunteering

 

Yep let him have his “teaching moment” and then just laugh about it at the bar later that night!

But also all good info about bombing down!

 

That's where the brown lips come from, right?

 

Here's how the conversation about FPA went for the non precision approach.

MM: "it's a good thing you got to Vapp by the FAF or else you would have been high on the approach."
Me: "why? We were using FPA..."
MM: "FPA wouldn't give you the descent rate you would need to be on 'slope' when you break out at minimums."
Me: "But FPA is an angle. It compensates for your groundspeed and is an angle."
MM: "No, it doesn't compensate for groundspeed and isn't an angle."
Me: "But that's what FPA stands for. Flight Path Angle."
MM: "No its not. You'll be high if you're too fast."
Me: (realizing he must be confusing FPA with VS) "If we were in Vertical Speed, yes, but we're not. We're using FPA."
MM: "No, you'll be high if you cross the FAF fast regardless of descent mode unless you're on something with a glideslope."
Me: "No, FPA will compensate just fine."
MM: "...I'll look into it and get back to you on it."

I take my victories where I can get them. I'll let the schoolhouse say weird stuff but that one wasn't one I was going to let slip by myself and my FO sim partner.

 

Looks like CA JA calls going out tonight