6 Weeks to Fewer Failures: Pilots’ Raw Data Sim Assessment Plan
Assessors pass candidates who show reliable flight path management, sound decision-making, clear crew resource management and consistent task management during raw-data profiles, not pilots who only center needles. The single best use of your prep time is a short, repeatable practice routine that trains task prioritization and steady manual handling under workload, because that is what examiners are actually scoring.
TL;DR:
- Consistent task management and clear crew resource management significantly influence raw-data assessment scores, often more than technical accuracy.
- Most failures stem from cognitive overload, such as fixation or checklist slips, which can be mitigated by simplified workflows and mental rehearsals before testing.
- Practicing specific maneuvers repeatedly over six weeks with a structured plan improves handling skills and helps identify weaknesses efficiently.
- Level D simulator sessions focus on practicing full profiles and specific maneuvers, maximizing realistic handling and decision-making under conditions similar to airline assessments.
- A short, repeatable pre-brief, focus on task sequencing during the session, and detailed debriefing are key to maintaining progress and targeting weak points effectively.
Table of Contents
- What assessors evaluate in raw data sim checks
- Raw data maneuvers you must master
- A practical 6-week practice plan and high-impact drills
- Why pilots lose performance on test day
- Sim session checklist: pre-brief, priorities, and debrief
- What instructors notice when pilots finally improve
- Get assessment ready with structured Level D practice
- FAQ
- Sources
What assessors evaluate in raw data sim checks
Modern airline sim checks score pilots against a competency framework rather than a simple pass or fail maneuver list. This approach, known as Evidence-Based Training, shifts the focus from perfect technical execution to observable behaviors that predict safe line performance. The EASA NPA 2018-07 (B) documents this shift toward competency frameworks and instructor standardization, with training built around measurable modules rather than isolated maneuvers.
Each competency translates into specific, watchable behavior in the simulator:
- Flight path management shows up as a stable track and altitude with smooth corrections, not last-second lunges at the controls.
- Communication means timely, standard callouts that keep the other pilot and the assessor informed of your intentions.
- Situational awareness is visible when you catch and correct an automation mode error before it becomes a deviation.
- Workload management appears as steady task sequencing: fly, navigate, communicate, in that order, even when something unexpected interrupts the flow.
Assessors are trained to watch for these patterns across an entire profile, not just at the final approach fix. A pilot who flies a slightly wide needle but talks through the correction and catches it early often scores better than one who centers the needle by luck while missing a radio call.
Raw data maneuvers you must master
A handful of profiles account for most raw-data assessment content, and each tests a distinct skill set.
- Raw-data ILS approach: tests glideslope and localizer tracking without flight director guidance; the pass marker is a stabilized approach by 1,000 feet with no more than momentary half-scale deviation.
- Raw-data SID/STAR transitions: tests manual tracking of published routes using VOR, DME or RNAV raw indications; the marker is staying within protected airspace while managing altitude restrictions.
- Holding patterns: tests entry technique, outbound timing and wind correction; the marker is consistent inbound track capture within two attempts.
- Non-precision approaches (VOR/NDB): tests descent planning and timing without vertical guidance; the marker is reaching minimums with the correct missed-approach point identified in advance.
- Engine-failure go-arounds: tests energy management and configuration changes under asymmetric thrust; the marker is maintaining a positive climb gradient while correctly sequencing checklist items.
- Basic airwork: tests raw attitude and power management; the marker is holding assigned headings and altitudes within standard tolerances without automation.
Each profile rewards a different mix of hand flying and procedure, so practice should rotate through all of them rather than overtraining the one you find easiest.
A practical 6-week practice plan and high-impact drills
A structured plan beats random stick time. Spread the work across four phases:
- Weeks 1 to 2, foundational instrument practice: rebuild basic scan and attitude control using a home trainer or part-task device, focusing on heading and altitude discipline.
- Weeks 3 to 4, focused raw-data block drills: isolate single maneuvers (a raw-data ILS, a hold, a non-precision approach) and repeat each five to eight times, varying wind and starting position.
- Week 5, integrated scenario sessions: combine maneuvers into a full profile with a failure injected partway through, forcing task reprioritization.
- Week 6, consolidation: run full mock assessments at Level D or equivalent fidelity, focused on consistency rather than new skills.
ICAO guidance on manual flight supports accepting minor deviations during this kind of repeated manual practice, since the goal in weeks three and four is building handling skill, not achieving a perfect first attempt.
Log three numbers after every session: lateral and vertical deviation per approach, time to stabilize after an automation mode change, and callout quality against a simple yes/no checklist. These three metrics show improvement faster than a general impression of “it went well.” Our drill templates for interview-style sim profiles outline specific repetition counts and tolerance targets for several of these maneuvers.
Pro Tip: Book paid Level D time only after you have exhausted what a part-task trainer can teach you, then use that expensive hour for the one maneuver you consistently fail.
Why pilots lose performance on test day
Most raw-data failures trace back to cognitive overload rather than a lack of stick skill. Under pressure, pilots fixate on one instrument, narrow their scan, or skip a checklist step because working memory is saturated.
- Fixation shows up as staring at the localizer needle while altitude drifts unnoticed.
- Poor scanning means reverting to a single-instrument habit instead of a full cross-check pattern.
- Checklist slips happen when a radio call or failure interrupts the flow and the pilot never returns to the paused item.
The fix is to simplify the mental workflow before the session starts. Use a compact scan template (attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading, back to attitude) and a micro-checklist of three or four memory items for the most common failures. Assign monitoring duties explicitly between pilots so one person always has capacity to catch a deviation. A 90-second warm-up before stepping into the box, mentally rehearsing the first approach and the first callout, settles nerves and resets the scan pattern before the pressure starts.
Sim session checklist: pre-brief, priorities, and debrief
A short, repeatable checklist keeps every practice session productive, whether it is a self-briefed hour or a paid Level D block.
- Pre-brief: state the session objective, agree on automation policy (hand flying only, or flight director on for setup), confirm who monitors which instrument, and preview the failure you expect.
- In-sim priorities: fly the path first, run the flight path management template, meet minimum acceptable standards before chasing precision, and make every CRM callout out loud even when flying solo in a part-task device.
- Debrief: name three things that went well, three specific actions to improve, and record the session’s numbers.
One in four assessment failures traces back to task management breakdowns rather than raw technical error, according to EASA’s competency framework guidance, which is why the debrief should weigh task sequencing as heavily as needle precision. Our logbook audit guide covers how to turn these session notes into documented evidence of your progress for an airline file.
What instructors notice when pilots finally improve
The fastest gains come from simplifying the mental workflow, not from micro-tweaking control inputs. Pilots who adopt a fixed scan pattern and a short memory checklist improve faster than those who chase smoother yoke pressure. Self-directed practice builds the scan habit, but a paid Level D hour with a veteran instructor is worth saving for the maneuvers you cannot diagnose alone, such as an engine-failure go-around that keeps falling apart under asymmetric thrust. Our instructor resources cover energy management techniques that extend this same approach.
— Jake
Get assessment ready with structured Level D practice
We built our simulator programs around the same competency gaps that trip up candidates on assessment day, so the practice hour you book is spent on what actually moves your score. Sessions run on Level D full-motion equipment rather than a desktop trainer.
If you need focused raw-data repetition before an interview, a block of simulator training sessions lets you target the specific maneuvers from your weak list. Pilots converting a foreign license or preparing for an ATP-CTP course often add dedicated prep time within our ATP-CTP course, since the simulator segments there already follow an assessment-style structure. Choose a shorter session if you only need to polish one or two maneuvers, and a longer block if you are rebuilding a full profile from scratch. Visit our admissions page to check session availability and get started.
FAQ
What is a raw data sim assessment?
A raw-data sim assessment is a simulator evaluation where flight director and some automation are turned off, so you fly approaches, holds, and departures using only basic instrument indications. Assessors score flight path management, communication, and decision-making rather than just technical precision.
How many hours of practice are needed before a raw data check?
There is no single published figure, since it depends on current proficiency and recency of manual flying. A staged plan built over several weeks, like the four-phase structure described above, tends to produce more consistent results than a handful of unplanned sessions.
What causes most failures in raw data sim checks?
Most failures come from task management breakdowns under workload, such as fixating on one instrument or missing a checklist step after an interruption, rather than a lack of raw handling skill. Simplifying your scan pattern and using short memory checklists directly addresses this.
Can Level D simulator sessions help with raw data proficiency specifically?
Yes, Level D full-motion sessions let you rehearse full raw-data profiles, including engine failures and non-precision approaches, under realistic handling characteristics. Our simulator training sessions are structured around the same maneuvers and competencies used in airline assessments.
Should I practice with automation on before switching to raw data?
Building a baseline scan with some automation support can help before stripping it away, but the ICAO manual flight guidance recommends regular raw-data practice specifically because it accepts minor deviations as part of developing durable manual handling skill.
Sources
- ICAO: LOC-I manual flight guidance (RSA-10B)
- EASA Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) 2018-07 (B) — RMT.0599