Australia’s air traffic controllers will soon have their training capability augmented by a new cloud-based simulator service.
Airservices Australia has signed a three-year service agreement with Airways International Limited (AIL) for its tower simulation product, TotalControl ATC Simulation.
Under this trans-Tasman partnership, operators in New Zealand will remotely create and operate exercises for Airservices’ air traffic controllers with photo-real graphics delivered via an intuitive interface.
This capability will allow Airservices to deliver compromised separation training for its experienced tower air traffic controllers. The mobile set up is transportable, compact and easy to set up, reducing the need for controllers to travel to Airservices’ training facilities and enabling them to conduct training at their home location.
Airservices Australia is the federal government-owned organisation responsible for 11% of the world’s airspace and providing fire fighting and rescue services at Australia’s busiest airports.
Airservices Australia Head of Operational Training and Resourcing, Marcus Knauer, said controllers would benefit from having access to training technology that can easily customise training exercises to practice critical air traffic control skills.
“Airservices will trial this technology initially with AIL developing a TrueView replication of operations at Sydney Tower commencing in September 2024 and extend to a further five aerodromes with a focus on compromised separation exercises,” Knauer said.
“Our controllers across the country are currently required to undertake compromised separation training every three years as part of their licensing, and this requires a large percentage of staff to travel in order to complete the training,” he said. “This mobile technology solution will enable the delivery of training locally and support operational continuity through reduced disruption to work schedules.”
