A320 ECAM Trainer: handling an engine fire (ENG 1 FIRE) just like in the cockpit

The failure triggers a few seconds into the cockpit photo. The MASTER WARN flashes and the CRC (continuous repetitive chime) sounds, recorded from a real cockpit. The E/WD displays the ENG 1 FIRE title in red, the procedure below it, LAND ASAP in red, and the ENGINE page appears on the lower screen.

First reflex: cancel the aural warning by pressing the MASTER WARN, then call out the title. In the trainer, you take on the role of the PM: “ENG 1 FIRE.” The PF keeps hold of the controls and navigation, while you read and action the ECAM.

Before taking any action, the failure must be confirmed: the red light on the ENG 1 FIRE pushbutton on the overhead panel, and the FIRE light on the ENG panel on the pedestal. Once the overhead is open and the fire panel has been checked, you call “ECAM CONFIRMED” and the PF calls “ECAM ACTIONS.”

The trainer doesn't open the panels for you: just as in the cockpit, it's up to you to go and find the overhead or the pedestal. A help button shows the expected panel if you go looking for it.

THR LEVER 1 … IDLE: the thrust lever for the engine on fire goes to idle. Since this is an irreversible action for the rest of the flight, you call “CONFIRM THR LEVER 1?” and the PF confirms before you move it.

ENG MASTER 1 … OFF: the same cross-check confirmation applies. The MASTER switch shuts off the LP and HP fuel valves, and the engine shuts down.

ENG 1 FIRE P/B … PUSH: the fire pushbutton isolates the engine (fuel, hydraulics, bleed air, generator), silences the aural warning and arms the extinguisher agents. In the trainer, the guarded pushbutton must be held for half a second, just like the real action.

AGENT 1 AFTER 10 S … DISCH: the countdown is displayed on the ECAM; waiting allows the N1 to decrease, reducing nacelle ventilation and making the agent more effective. Then ATC … NOTIFY: MAYDAY and intentions.

IF FIRE AFTER 30 S: AGENT 2 … DISCH. Depending on the scenario, the fire goes out after the first agent or persists: the AGENT 2 line only remains on screen if the engine is still burning, exactly as on the real aircraft.

Once the fire has been dealt with, the ECAM moves on to ENG 1 SHUT DOWN: ENG MODE SEL to IGN, IMBALANCE to be monitored if there's no leak, TCAS to TA, X BLEED closed, WING ANTI ICE to OFF, and the AVOID ICING CONDITIONS reminder. Each CLR is confirmed with the PF (“CLEAR ENG 1 FIRE?”).

The secondary failures then appear page by page (*BLEED, *ELEC, *HYD): you review them, then clear them. Finally comes the STATUS: icing guidance, LDG DIST PROC, CAT 3 SINGLE ONLY, and the list of INOP systems (GEN 1, ENG 1 BLEED, PACK 1, G ENG 1 PUMP…). Reading the STATUS brings the failure to a close.

In guided mode, the area to touch flashes and every line of the procedure is explained. In autonomous mode, you're on your own facing the ECAM. In exam mode, the failure is scored out of 100 based on time and errors: actions carried out in the wrong order, a CLR without confirmation, or the wrong panel.

The engine fire is just one of more than 160 failures in the trainer: engine fire on the ground, ENG FAIL with or without damage, EMER ELEC CONFIG, dual hydraulic failures, ELAC and SEC failures, jammed slats and flaps, pressurisation, fuel. The procedures are written based on the A320 FCOM; your company's FCOM and QRH always remain the reference.

The ECAM Trainer is included in the Avions subscription, under the A320 ECAM Trainer tab (Type Rating). The full presentation is available on the /ecam-trainer-a320 page.