Rosenbauer delivers first fire truck simulator for China airport training
Iain Hoey
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China receives first fire truck simulator
Rosenbauer has put the first fire truck simulator into service in China through a mobile system installed in a trailer and delivered to a Beijing company with a training centre in Wuhan.
The simulator was delivered to Super Umbrella, which specialises exclusively in airport fire departments.
The trailer-based system can be installed for use anywhere and is intended to support training for airport fire truck operators.
Alexander Schneckenreither, Managing Director of Rosenbauer China, said: “With the mobile simulator, you have the ability to conduct training and instruction anywhere and without extensive preparatory work.”
Training can be carried out without being tied to a specific time or location.
Rosenbauer that this is especially relevant for airport fire departments, where drills can be difficult or impossible to carry out during flight operations.
It also said that there are almost no live-fire simulators at airports in China.
China simulator covers driving and tactical training
The company said the simulator uses a generic cockpit with five displays and controls similar to those of the PANTHER, allowing it to be used for multiple vehicle types.
The training scenarios cover driving as well as firefighting operations.
Schneckenreither said: “It is a driving and tactical simulator that allows you to intensively train both the approach to the scene and the correct application of firefighting techniques in a wide variety of training scenarios—from basic training to complex scenarios including operational tactics, fire suppression, and communication with incident command,”
Rosenbauer states that the simulator recreates airport grounds and cockpit procedures such as buckling up, starting the engine and releasing the parking brake.
It also includes the operation of firefighting equipment including front and roof monitors.
Some scenarios at a virtual airport with two runways were pre-programmed at the customer’s request.
Trainers have their own room in the trailer for control and observation.
They can also create their own scenarios or change existing ones in real time, including the placement of additional vehicles or aircraft and changes to weather conditions.
Rosenbauer noted that many fire truck drivers in China come from truck or bus driving backgrounds rather than firefighting.
Schneckenreither said: “This is precisely where using a simulator makes a lot of sense.
“Drivers can familiarize themselves with the vehicle without risk and already have a certain level of routine in operating it before they take the wheel of a real vehicle with a crew,”
Rosenbauer states that there are around 50 PANTHER-type airport fire trucks in service in China, alongside other fire trucks that can also be used in simulator training.
Schneckenreither added: “The Civil Aviation Administration of China has already expressed interest.
“The simulator offers real added value in the training and continuing education of drivers and can thus become an important tool for training and education.”