Training to deice a C130 on an aircraft deicing training
simulator
Passionate about building interactive 3D
training SIMS utilizing video game technology, ForgeFX Simulations is making industrial training simulations using Virtual Reality.
“As virtual reality has matured in the past
several years, bypassing many old problems like insufficient computing power,
prohibitive costs, and even the sheer weight of the hardware, ForgeFX made a bet that VR would be the next
evolution of their simulators,” said president and co-founder Greg Meyers in an
interview to TechRepublic. “We were doing
our best to put you in the environment, but it just always fell short,"
Meyers added.
At the 2016 Silicon
Valley Virtual Reality (SVVR) Conference & Expo, held late April,
ForgeFX showcased the simulation for training airport workers on how to deice
the wing of a plane.
ForgeFX developed this aircraft deicing
simulator for Global Ground Support, a leading
manufacturer of airport ground support equipment used both
commercially and by the military.
Building upon the success of this training
simulator, a next-generation version is under development and at early beta
stages of deployment. The next-generation aircraft deicing simulator includes
many upgrades and new features, including support for the Oculus Rift virtual
reality platform.
Aircraft Deicing Training Simulator with Support for Oculus
Rift VR platform
Global Ground’s mission is to provide the best
in equipment and ground support to get your flight in the air on time.
The Global Ground Support Aircraft Deicing
Simulator is a 3D training simulation for airport ground support equipment
operators, allowing operators to be trained, tested, and assessed on all
aspects of aircraft deicing in a safe, risk-free, and low cost environment.
The training simulation teaches equipment
operators year-round to use Global Ground’s Support deicers quickly, with more
flexibility and at a lower cost than traditional training. Of course, no
real-world equipment is taken off the line and no expensive consumables, such
as fuel, oil and deicing fluids, are required for simulation-based training.
Training Deicer Operators
When planes take off in stormy weather, they
must be properly deiced to reduce the risk of accidents. In addition, deicing
operators must be extremely careful when deicing planes, since any collision
between deicing equipment and a plane is costly and can cause flight delays.
With stakes as high as these, training highly
competent deicing operators is crucial. However, relying solely on traditional
training can be expensive and difficult, requiring specific weather conditions
and the use of costly consumables.
Simulator Features and Capabilities
The software simulates Global Ground Support’s
2200 TEAP deicer. The software, coupled with the original equipment manufacturer
(OEM) hardware, which includes joysticks, pedals, and a wide-screen display,
gives the user a first-person perspective of an operator sitting within the cab
of the real-world deicer. The simulation includes a true-to-life real-time
fluid rendering system, accurately representing the nozzle and spray dynamics,
allowing operators to acquire the necessary finesse to expertly operate the
deicer.
Training simulation sessions begin by selecting
the type of aircraft to be deiced and parameters, including the time of day,
wind conditions, temperature, and the type of precipitation present in the
environment. The operator has full control over the deicer’s boom arm, cab
rotation, truck location, nozzle settings, fluid selection, spray selection and
lights.
Performance Tracking and Reporting
The simulation tracks the performance of users,
recording their scores for review by instructors. Users are scored on their
performance, including amount of contaminant removed, time taken, gallons of
fluid used, no-spray area violations, and aircraft collisions.
Simulation-based training for a B1 aircraft
“VR isn't always an immediate sell,” Meyers said,
“but businesses understand the idea of mitigating risk and saving money.”