Nuremberg Airport Adds VR Training for Ramp Staff
Nuremberg Airport has introduced virtual reality training to prepare new employees for ramp service operations on the apron.
Before they can marshal aircraft, operate specialised vehicles or load baggage, new employees complete extensive theoretical and practical training. The airport is now using VR headsets to support this process by recreating everyday airport operations in realistic detail.
Around 50 new employees have to be trained each year for ramp service duties. Existing staff also receive regular refresher courses.
Previously, the training involved one day of theory followed by practical learning in which employees applied what they had been taught. Ramp services trainer Erkan Catoglu said the new system gives trainees another way to practise those tasks before carrying them out during airport operations.
Trainees use VR headsets and joysticks in a virtual airport environment that closely reflects the conditions involved in ramp service work. The training modules cover a range of operational tasks and situations.
These include safely handling arriving aircraft, operating baggage conveyor belts and ground power units, driving tow tractors, and carrying out pushback procedures. Trainees can also practise communication with the cockpit.
The virtual environment allows new employees to build confidence while learning tasks associated with apron operations. They can practise procedures without exposure to the risks present during the same activities around aircraft and ground equipment.
The system also includes critical situations that could otherwise lead to accidents. Within the simulation, mistakes do not result in injuries or costly damage to aircraft, allowing trainees to work through those situations as part of the training process.
Catoglu said the scenarios are intended to help trainees learn how to make the right decisions under pressure. This lets them practise responding to situations that may require them to assess what is happening and act correctly.
Draxon GmbH, based in Cologne, provides the VR training solution. The company specialises in simulation-based training for airport ground handling operations.
At Nuremberg Airport, the system is being used within the existing training programme for ramp service employees. It supports new staff preparation before they take on duties such as aircraft marshalling, vehicle operation, and baggage loading, while the airport continues to provide refresher training for existing employees.
