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Cabin Crew Training     

 
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AIRCRAFT CABIN CREW TRAINING: a 3D training simulation application

Application Domain

Aircraft cabin crew training represent a typical use of INSCAPE in the simulation and training domain. Aircraft cabin crew (i. e. air hostess and steward) are mostly trained using slideshow presentations, and role-playing animated by a trainer. The training for opening and closing the door is done using a real door of aircraft ; some companies train their crew to use the Flight Attendant Panel (FAP) thanks to a simulated FAP; and the comparatively expensive use of scale models of aircraft cabins to train for evacuation procedure.

Airlines propose 3 different training scenarios for their cabin crew:

  • Initial training: training for the job of air hostess / steward, training for the different aircraft owned by the company, training for the safety procedure
  • Training on the new aircraft acquire by the company: training for safety procedure and flight checking on the different aircrafts
  • Annual updates (recurrent): Training based on real life scenario None of these training scenarios are scripted to simulate a real situation in the Airplane, and their is an established need to train the cabin crew. Through this use case we try to add value to the cabin crew training by scripting and simulating real life situations within INSCAPE. We focus our scenario on the procedures to apply in case of a safety incident during landing and during spells of turbulence during the flight.

    The scenario described bellow has been established with the responsible for cabin crew training at Airbus Training.

    Story Outline

    The scenario will train the user to perform safety procedures during critical flight periods. The user interface and interactions are very simple for trainees who may not be used to working with computers and virtual environments.

    Context

    Landing and periods of turbulence are critical events during a flight. Most incidents happen during these periods, although all cabin crew and passengers are seated and have their seat belts fastened.

    During landing and taxing to the arrival gate, all passenger and cabin crew must have their seat belt fastened. Only in case of safety incident (such as fire) are the air hostess (or steward) allowed to get up.

    We plan to produce 3 training scenarios:

  • Fire incident in the cabin during taxing
  • An overhead bin opens at landing + evacuation order during taxing
  • Entering a turbulent area while catering
     

    Scenario 1: Fire incident during taxing

    After landing, smoke is visibly emitting from overhead bin. The cabin crew has to apply the overhead bin smoke/fire procedure. The Firefighter, the Communicator, and the Assistant Firefighter perform their roles and actions simultaneously.

    The firefighter will need to:

  • Take the firefighting equipment
  • Investigate and determine the reason for smoke
  • Check for heat using the back of the hand, feel the overhead bin to determine the temperature and presence of fire
  • Open 25 mm or 1 Inch the overhead bin, just enough to pass the nozzle of the fire extinguisher
  • CAUTION: Opening the overhead bin more than is necessary risks contaminating the cabin with smoke and put occupants at risk of smoke inhalation.
  • Discharge the fire extinguisher into the overhead bin, away from the seat, to prevent debris from contaminating the cabin.
  • Close the overhead bin
  • Repeat last three steps of the procedure, as necessary The communicator immediately notifies the flight crew via interphone, he must specify the following information: location, source, severity, firefighting progress, number of fire extinguisher used, time firefighting action started. He must maintain the communication with flight crew, and communicate their instructions to crewmembers.

    The firefighter assistant will supply firefighting equipment if necessary, and support the firefighter. He also communicates the fire information from the firefighter to the communicator.

    In this scenario, the user plays the role of the firefighter.

    Scenario2: evacuation during taxing after a non-safety incident

    After landing, an overhead bin opens and a luggage falls down in the corridor.

    As it is not a safety incident, most of the airlines consider the crew members must stay seated closed to their door, because landing and taxing are critical flight period during which an evacuation may be required. Nevertheless in many cases the crew members or passengers will get up to close the overhead bin.

    This scenario will show to the user the importance of remaining seated during this situation with the overhead bin. Users who decide to get up and to close the overhead bin will have to face an evacuation procedure while they are still in the middle of the corridor. This will lead to a critical situation, because the crew member must open the door to proceed to the evacuation.

    This training exercise is based on a real life scenario that already happens in the past. It learns the user to make the difference between a safety incident (Scenario 1) and an non safety incident in this scenario.

    Scenario3: Turbulence during catering

    Turbulence during flight is responsible for many incidents and injuries. When turbulences happens while food and drink ar being served the instructions for the passenger is to fasten their seat belt, for the cabin crew member is to lock the trolley, sit down in the corridor grab at something securely fixed, such as  seat an armrest. However, crew memers will often take the time to put the trolley away and go back to their seat, then many accidents happen.

    This third scenario proposes one binary choice to the user, he will have to choose to put the trolley away and go back to his seat or to lock the trolley, lay down and grab something. This is a very simple simulation, but it brings the user into a real life situation that happens everyday. The goal of training is easily reached since the user is immersed in a scenario. In function of the user choice, subtitles will explain the reason for applying the procedure and correct the user if needed.

    INSCAPE implementation

    The three scenarios will be implemented with a respective Stage for each, an Introductory Stage and a User Stage to explain the possible interactions to the user. Situations will be used in each scenarios as steps. Each time the user performs the right choice, he will jump to the following situation/step, if he does not make the right choice, he will be directed to an explanatory situation, and then he will resume the training.

    Highlighted INSCAPE Features

    In this scenario, we will be using many INSCAPE core features, most of them related to the 3D Stage Editor, and Object Editor. The following capabilities will be specifically emphasised in this story:
  • Combining images, videos, icon and interactive 3d layers in a single story
  • Implementing story transitions through clickable icons
  • Use of particles system.
  • Using icons and pop up menu in 3D stories
  • Use of 3D characters and motions
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