Royal New Zealand Air Force | Air Force News - Issue 227, August 2020

The Marshalling Simulator uses virtual reality goggles to provide an immersive simulation of an aircraft flight line, and allows trainees to experience marshalling an aircraft, with associated hazards without the need to utilise actual aircraft.

“The marshalling simulator is effective as it can immerse students in an environment where they will one day be working. It provides realistic rendering of landscapes and has audio and visual stimulus to aid in learning, while also being fun,” said CPL Lings.

The goggles are high quality products with good visual accuracy. This allows students to feel as though they have an aircraft coming towards them, while still being able to look around their environment for hazards and other aircraft.

“The technology also enables different aircraft to be used. Simulations can be made using multiple aircraft including the C-130H, P-3K2, P-8A, or B757,” said CPL Lings.

Nothing will beat hands-on experience, but the technology being used at Base Woodbourne is allowing students to get close to the real thing using platforms that many are already familiar with.

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