THE training of prospective air traffic controllers in the country has been elevated to a new level with the introduction of a state-of-the-art “3D aerodrome tower simulator,” which recreates virtually the environment that places a trainee in the thick of the action without having to endanger the life of anyone.
Designed to artificially recreate the control tower environment, the tower simulator is also cost-efficient as it offers lower expenses than conducting training in actual air traffic control conditions.
The apparatus was inaugurated on Wednesday by the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Secretary, Arthur Tugade, at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Training Center in Parañaque City.
The use of the simulator mitigates certain risks while allowing trainees to practice handling flight emergencies and other aviation situations without putting any one in real danger.
It is the first of its kind in the Philippines and the supply, installation and testing of the simulator was completed in March, 2021.
The computer allows the supervisor to simulate any airport scenario of any country as if the trainee is actually viewing the actual airport from the window of the control tower “cab.” This is a specially-built room surrounded by glass panels that also houses the air traffic controllers and related radar screens, weather information, flight plans, telephones or hotlines to associated controllers.
In the Philippines, the CAAP has installed in the simulator data bank the program of six actual airports that can be used to test the air traffic controller’s proficiency. These are the airports of Manila, Clark, Mactan, Plaridel, Davao and one generic single-runway airport.
In a room that simulates the actual condition of a cab, a computer projects on a series of huge screens the views, for example, of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), when looking out of the windows, including the airplanes in the air, on the ground and other obstacles.
The CAAP Aerodrome Tower Simulator features a 315-degree horizontal field of view designed to aid the trainee, or even professional traffic controllers who are undergoing refresher courses.
The instructor can simulate various weather conditions, and the number of air traffic elements in the training, testing, and maintaining proficiency in the aerodrome without risking property or lives.
Modern aviation safety training
According to CAAP, the use of this ultramodern facility has now become common in advanced economies.
“The aerodrome simulator will eliminate the obsolete training methods used in the aerodrome laboratory training module of the Civil Aviation Training Center (CATC), such as the use of miniature model airplanes that instructors manipulate to simulate air traffic,” the Caap said.
The overall aerodrome training module for the Comprehensive Air Traffic Service usually takes six weeks, with two weeks allocated for lectures and four weeks for the laboratory phase.
Before the 3D Aerodrome Tower was introduced, the CATC usually turned out new graduates after a much longer training period of four to six months.
“Instructional methods will be enhanced and shall give ATC trainees the appropriate impression of the airport environment by recreating real-time visual scenarios from a control tower,” the CAAP said.
The facility can be used by full-fledged ATC and trainees, who can now experience the environment of an aerodrome control tower safely and efficiently.
The CAAP said the 3D aerodrome simulator was made by Singapore Technologies Engineering Electronics (STEE) Training & Simulations Systems PTE. LTD.