The VV Simulator is a medium-fidelity ATC simulator that has been designed for the acquisition and consolidation of core ATC skills. Versions of the simulator are used in the VV Approach™ and VV Enroute™ training programs. Whilst the design purpose is for the use of the simulator as a practice tool for delivery of VV training methodologies, it is able to be configured for any radar/surveillance airspace, including:
- Approach (Terminal/TCU/TRACON) sectors
- Enroute (Area/Arrivals) sectors
- Flight Service (DTI/OCTA) sectors
The VV Simulator a cost-effective alternative to system simulators for recurrent, refresher and conversion training. In addition, when bundled with a step-wise training program, the VV Simulator is an ideal tool for the delivery of introductory sector training. Trainees will present for local simulation or on-the-job training phase with a significantly higher skill level, having been schooled in optimal and standard techniques for the sector, and having practiced them to perfection.
The simulator may be readily customized to local conditions, including options to change the interface, phraseology and procedures. The facility to print strips according to a defined format is available, or a paperless system may be used.
Features:
A full list of features is available in the product description. Customization to include functionality not already available can be readily included on a collaborative basis. For aircraft performance data, the VV simulator makes use of realistic profile information that has been validated against the Eurocontrol Aircraft Performance Database.
Designing Exercises:
Design of exercises for the VV Simulator is managed with the VV Exercise Creator (VVEC) tool. This program allows aircraft to be added from a library of standard flights, from a capture of AFTN data, or manually.
Once the aircraft have been selected, they may be placed in the scenario by a number of means, including:
- Setting the time an aircraft reaches a fix
- Setting the departure time
- Setting the landing time
- Setting the position of the aircraft at the start of the scenario
Scenario objectives including conflict-generation and workload intensity may be assessed by simply sliding the clock to any position in the scenario and viewing the position of the aircraft.
The VVEC enables exercise design, testing and moderation to be done quickly and easily by instructors without the need for specialized support staff. A random generator is available, as well as the facility to construct scenarios based on flight timetables.
Exercise Events:
The VV Simulator is equipped with a scripting function that enables exercise events to occur, either on a timed basis, or subject to other exercise occurrences. Examples of these scripted events include:
- Free text aircraft transmissions, such as emergency declarations
- Aircraft requests, such as level/tracking requests
- Flight evolutions, such as taxi, departure.
- Uncommanded aircraft behavior, such as level/track changes
- Runway changes
- Runway closures
- Weather information, such as ATI changes
- Messages from planner, such as hints or required information
- Messages from supervisor, such as advice of required holding or sequencing
The prerequisite conditions that may be configured for such events to occur include:
- Timed activation of the event, e.g. aircraft requests a level change at time 30.
- Aircraft at, below, above or assigned a certain level, e.g. aircraft requests a level change if another aircraft is at that level.
- Aircraft flight evolution event has occurred, e.g. runway closure after aircraft subject to emergency has landed
- ATC instruction passed to aircraft, e.g. aircraft requests a change of runway once a star clearance has been issued.
Through the use of these scripting tools, a scenario may be developed where a non-routine event (such as an in-flight emergency) unfolds in a logical and realistic way. See the VV Simulator in use for Hong Kong airspace.
Location-specific Sectors
The VV Simulator may be configured to simulate real airspace. Here are some screenshots showing Sydney Arrivals and Hong Kong Approach.
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| Sydney Arrivals | Hong Kong Runway 07 | Hong Kong Runway 25 |
Sample Scenario on Hong Kong airspace