CBT or Computer Based Training is our self-paced method of learning the technical side of the Boeing 737 Type Rating. There are a total of 50 subjects to be reviewed as part of the CBT. They are grouped into main topics, these include: - Air Systems (Bleed air, pressurisation, air conditioning), - Airplane General, - Anti-ice equipment, - Communications, - Electrical, - Engines and APU, - Fire Protection, - Flight controls (Primary and Secondary), - Flight Instruments and Displays (Autoflight, VNAV, LNAV, Flight Directors, Standby instruments), - FMS (Flight Management System) and Navigation (ADIRU - Air Data Inertial Reference Unit), - Fuel systems, - Hydraulics, - Landing Gear, - Warning Systems (Warnings, EGPWS, TCAS.).

Flight Phase Instruction consists of 8 sessions (32 hours) and a skill test (4 hours), 36 hours in total, on the Boeing 737 NG FFS. Each FFS session is comprised of 4.

The CBT program is actually very well designed and allows you to manually make inputs into the different systems and see their effects. The CBT self-learning sequence is spread over two weeks, along with classes and reviews with flight instructors. It is supplemented by the FCOM (Flight Crew Operations Manual) which we have to know thoroughly, and which is in fact much more detailed. The CBT however is a Boeing-based program, not airline specific. An example of how detailed it gets would be the Landing Gear warning activation: - The horn will activated when the flaps are between 0 and 10, - Below 200ft RA (Radar Altitude), - With one engine failed, - 1 thrust lever less than 20°, - All gear not down, OR - With Flaps between 15 and 25, - 1 thrust lever less than 34° with 1 engine failed, - or 1 thrust lever less than 20° with both engines operating, OR - Flaps 25 or more. For every alert or warning light, there can be many different causes and many different actions to be taken, or even combination of warnings that lead to a different condition.

Example: If the ZONE TEMP light illuminates amber, then CONT CAB indicates a duct temperature overheat or failure of the flight deck primary and standby temperature controls. ZONE TEMP for FWD CAB and AFT CAB (Foward and Aft Cabin) indicates a duct temperature overheat. If ZONE TEMP illuminates during Master Caution recall, then CONT CAB indicates a failure of the flight deck primary or standby temperature control. Either FWD CAB or AFT CAB indicates a failure of the associated zone temperature control.

It can easily get confusing with hundreds of different warning lights in different locations. We also started learning the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in the Procedure Trainer, which I'll explain in the next post. Finally, we spent a couple of hours in the FMC trainer to have a go and practice all the things this fantastic system has to offer. So far, this aircraft looks absolutely fantastic! Airborne life continues.