Airways International, the New Zealand air navigation services provider (ANSP) has been tasked with delivering an air traffic control (ATC) simulation service for Australian ATCOs through Airservices Australia.
The three-year ‘simulation-as-a-service’ contract includes the lease of a mobile TotalControl simulator, remote simulation piloting with Airways staff acting as pilots in the simulator and related support services.
“Our investment in TotalControl’s cloud-based simulation and the expertise we’ve developed in the provision of remote simulation services for Airways in New Zealand sees us well placed to deliver this model for Airservices Australia,” said Airways International CEO, Sharon Cooke.
The agreement will enable Airservices Australia to make use of Airways International’s TotalControl “sim in a suitcase” as a mobile training tool – moving it around units across Australia for use by ATCOs. Services will be delivered via the cloud with Airservices Australia trialing a TotalControl simulation solution for its control towers, with the flexibility to use Airways International’s remote piloting service as required during simulator exercises.
Marcus Knauer, Airservices Australia’s Head of Operational Training and Resourcing, commented that its controllers would benefit from having access to training technology that can be customised to their needs and environment.
“Airservices will trial this technology initially with Airways International developing a TrueView replication of operations at Sydney Tower commencing in September 2024 – we’ll then extend to a further five aerodromes with a focus on compromised separation exercises,” he said.
“This mobile technology solution will enable the delivery of training locally and support operational continuity through reduced disruption to work schedules,” he continued.
With more than 70 TotalControl simulators in use across the world, Airways International has secured a number of TotalControl simulation contracts in the last year, including the installation of a 360-degree tower simulator in Nepal, a 270-degree tower simulator in Croatia and the commissioning of a mobile simulator in Cape Verde.