Emirates crew put through virtual paces

The Dubai-based airline has appointed Cubic Global Defense to develop what it says is the aviation industry's first virtual training programme. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Emirates is putting its cabin crew through a game-based training programme devised by a company that usually provides services for military forces and special operations units.

The Dubai-based airline has appointed Cubic Global Defense to develop what it says is the aviation industry's first virtual training programme.

Catherine Baird, Emirates' senior vice-president, cabin crew training, said, "This will be the first time in the aviation industry a commercial airline will use in-depth game-based instruction with an integrated training approach."

The programme will complement the airline's existing training facilities at its college in Dubai.

Aircraft familiarisation is among the new content being developed, allowing cabin crew to immerse themselves in a virtual tour of both the interior and exterior of aircraft.

Baird said it was the airline's biggest investment in crew training since it introduced full-motion, high-fidelity aircraft simulators.

"As the airline expands, our main goal is being able to cater to our growing crew numbers without compromising our world-class training programme."

With 16 more aircraft deliveries expected by March next year, Emirates is hiring more than 5000 new cabin crew this year alone. Today, it has over 20,000 cabin crew of more than 135 nationalities.

On its website Cubic Global Defense says it provides realistic combat training systems, mission training, intelligence, special operations and cyber solutions for the United States and allied forces in more than 35 countries.