Training on-site within airline training facilities is a usual practice for SEP (Safety and Emergency Procedures) training. On-site training using mock-ups or aircraft is mandatory and must be part of the SEP training. 

But some visits to the mock-up or aircraft can be reduced. By executing some parts of SEP training virtually, you can improve the crew’s preparation before on-site training sessions and even replace some mock-ups or training sessions in the aircraft.

Whether you are an airline or a cabin crew training centre, you want to train your cabin crew as efficiently and conveniently as possible. If you want to understand what the virtual trainer is and how easy it is to implement it in your cabin crew training program, continue reading. 

What is a virtual trainer? 

Virtual SEP trainer is a training aid for cabin crew that allows them to practice safety and emergency procedures anywhere, anytime, at their own pace. 

Virtual SEP (Safety and Emergency Procedure) trainers are an especially convenient solution for:  

👉🏼  Initial cabin crew training
👉🏼  Recurrent cabin crew training
👉🏼  Familiarisation course for cabin crew
👉🏼  Conversion and recurrent cabin crew training 

Virtual SEP trainer does not require use of any VR equipment. A smartphone is all your crew needs to enter virtual aircraft.

Virtual SEP trainer

A fully immersive way for cabin crew to learn the procedures, before ever needing to step onto the aircraft. 

Virtual SEP Training vs. Traditional SEP Training👇🏼

Even though traditional SEP training takes place on-site within aircraft cabin mock-ups, according to Kallonen’s study with 12 Finnair’s flight instructors on virtual SEP training, 60% of instructors agree that the combination of virtual SEP trainers and on-site training is a perfect match for enhancing SEP training.

Other Nordic flight instructors that are part of Sunclass Airlines and Air Greenland optimised their crew training with their own in-house virtual SEP trainers and recognized positive outcomes, too. 

Virtual SEP trainers are an essential part of flying personnel’s initial and further training within Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT). Andrea Resch, Head of Safety, Security and Service Training at Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT), points out that SEP training is the most efficient when face-to-face training is blended with virtual training. For that reason, they keep using virtual SEP trainers. 

If you want to improve your cabin crew training then the best solution is to supplement on-site training sessions with virtual SEP trainers.

With better preparation and virtual aircraft that are always available for training, you will eventually reduce the need for mock-up or aircraft training, which will lead to reduced expenses and more efficient training in general.

Air Greenland reached excellent pass rates with 60% less aircraft time  

Reduced simulator and aircraft sessions significantly decreased the training costs and led to savings of more than €100,000.

How can a virtual SEP trainer help your cabin crew? 

Virtual SEP trainer allows your cabin crew to get familiar with the aircraft and the procedures. With a virtual cabin crew trainer you can deliver any type of training content and allow the crew to get familiar with the aircraft environment, its layout, equipment and procedures.

Whether your cabin crew is preparing for the flight or wants to refresh procedures for pre-take-off checks, they can use a virtual trainer. There are no limitations depending on the type of training content you would like to deliver.

Virtual SEP trainer can be also used to enhance recurrent and conversion training for your cabin crew. Maintain their proficiency and refresh their knowledge of normal and emergency situations when needed. A virtual trainer is always available for your crew.

Preparation with virtual SEP trainers will make on-site training more efficient and allow your crew to come fully prepared. They will be faster in navigating through the aircraft and practicing all the procedures simply because they had a chance to get familiar with the aircraft beforehand on their mobile device.

How Sunclass Airlines Manages Crew Training Across 7 Bases?

Using virtual trainers, Sunclass Airlines reduced the need to travel to the training facilities and helped the crew stay current from any location. 

Sources:

1. EASA. (n.d.). EASA Pro. [online] Available at: https://www.easa.europa.eu/home.
2. Virtual 360 Editor. (2022). Improve Training Effectiveness in Aviation by Applying Immersive Learning. [online] Available at: https://home.v360e.com/2022/02/10/apply-immersive-learning-and-maximize-training-effectiveness/ [Accessed 3 Mar. 2022].
3. Virtual 360 Editor. (n.d.). Air Greenland. [online] Available at: https://home.v360e.com/aviation/air-greenland/ [Accessed 3 Mar. 2022].
4. Virtual 360 Editor. (2021). How Sunclass Airlines Manages Crew Training In 7 Bases. [online] Available at: https://home.v360e.com/2021/06/24/virtual-crew-training-academy-how-sunclass-airlines-manages-crew-training-across-7-bases/ [Accessed 3 Mar. 2022].
5. Sky Professionals. (n.d.). Recurrent training for Cabin Crew. This training includes both aircraft type specific and operator training elements. [online] Available at: https://www.skyprofessionals.com/cabin-crew-training/recurrent-training/ [Accessed 3 Mar. 2022].
6. Kallonen, F. (2020). Virtual Training versus Classroom Training for Cabin Crew: Benefits and Challenges. [online] Available at: https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/497097/Kallonen_Florencia_thesis.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y [Accessed 14 Mar. 2022].
7. www.lufthansa-aviation-training.com. (n.d.). Meet the Expert – Safety Emergency Procedure Training – lufthansa-aviation-training.com. [online] Available at: https://www.lufthansa-aviation-training.com/meet-the-expert-safety-emergency-procedure-training [Accessed 25 May 2022].