Jonny Cooke, TotalControl Product Manager recently contributed to an Asian Aviation magazine article about the state of the air traffic control (ATC) training and simulation market.
With the aviation sector in Asia rapidly expanding post-Covid, demand for advanced pilot and ATC training is growing. Jonny explores the increasing global interest for ATC simulators and unpacks the potential benefits that adopting artificial intelligence (AI) could have in the simulation industry.
By association, driven by the region’s need to enhance air traffic management and the increase in air traffic across Asia, the ATC simulation market in Asia is also expanding. This latest alignment is leading to increased demand for a wide spectrum of ATC simulation and training products.
ATC simulators are vital in air traffic controller training, they offer a realistic environment where controllers can practice handling various scenarios, emergencies, and challenges, building their confidence without risk.
Today’s simulations use accurate aircraft, airport models, and weather conditions to mirror real situations, allowing controllers to fine-tune and develop quick decision-making skills.
This training enhances a controller’s ability to manage air traffic safely and effectively, ensuring they are well-prepared to apply standard procedures and tackle real-world situations if and when they arise.
Based in Christchurch New Zealand, Jonny Cooke is a product manager for Airways International, looking after the firm’s Total Control simulation platform. Cooke has over 10 years of experience working in ATC simulation as a sim pilot, technical specialist and product manager.
“With the increase in global travel post-Covid, there is now a clear requirement for surge capacity in the training of air traffic controllers…”
Cooke says there was an immediate and noticeable drop off in training demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent lower demand for ATC simulators, as many air navigation service providers paused their recruitment activities and some laid off staff.
He highlights that two exceptions to this were demand for simulators for military customers, and some long-term strategic simulation projects where the budget was already allocated.
“With the increase in global travel post-Covid, there is now a clear requirement for surge capacity in the training of air traffic controllers, and greater revenue flow. As a result we are seeing an increased level of interest from customers globally for simulators, including in the Asia Pacific region,” says Cooke.
“Our customers in the Asia Pacific region are quite diverse in terms of size and training/simulation requirements. We have seen the greatest interest in simulation from our larger customers — for example, we have recently delivered a simulation-as-a-service solution to Airservices Australia, including a mobile simulator and provision of a remote simulator pilot service from New Zealand.”
With the ubiquitous AI moving so rapidly across all industries now, do these industry specialists see the increased adoption as a threat or a boon to the ATC and pilot training simulation business, and just
what innovations and applications do they foresee in the sector?
“There are many potential benefits to adopting artificial intelligence into the air traffic control simulation industry, AI can undoubtedly automate routine tasks for enhanced efficiency, and can quickly analyse vast amounts of data which can enhance decision making during simulations,” Cooke says.
According to Cooke, ATC simulation provides a safe environment to explore AI technologies, and with careful consideration, planning and implementation, AI has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of ATC simulations and provide a glimpse of the future workspace.
On innovations in his sector he says audio and visual elements are key aspects of air traffic control simulation, and these lend themselves well to image diffusion and AI voice applications.
“Airways International’s TotalControl ATC simulation team is actively testing and using AI engines in TotalControl product development, and as a result have some advanced new product offerings on
the horizon, watch this space for what’s to come in AI advancements in ATC simulation,” said Cooke.
TotalControl advanced simulation combines unparalleled photo-real graphics with an easy-to-use, intuitive interface – bringing you one of the most realistic digital simulation platforms on the global market.
