CAAS Commissions Next Generation Airport Foam Tender Driving Simulator

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has commissioned its next generation Airport Foam Tender Driving Simulator (AFTDS) at the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA).

Several enhancements have been made to the current AFTDS, which was first commissioned in 2008, making it one of the most technologically advanced airport emergency simulator training systems in Asia Pacific. Enhancements include:

- Incorporating scenarios that provide a higher degree of realism. By training with more realistic scenarios, including that of passengers evacuating from a burning aircraft, Airport Emergency Service (AES) officers can be better prepared to respond effectively to different challenging conditions in a safe and controlled environment.

- Connecting the AFTDS to three other fire truck driving simulators. This feature helps to sharpen “command and control” skills by enabling more team-based collaborative and interactive training. The new feature will also help to boost training capacity from 1,100 to 1,800 training sessions annually.

- Updated with the latest Changi Airport layout to enhance operational readiness. With inclusion of the soon-to-open Terminal 4, the AES officers can familiarize themselves with T4’s roadway layout and ensure their readiness for operations at the terminal even before it is operational.

Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS said, “Airport emergency services personnel must be ready to respond promptly and competently to emergency situations in order to ensure the safety of passengers. Through SAA, CAAS is committed to enhance the training and competency of airport emergency services personnel at Changi Airport as well as other airports.”

The next generation AFTDS will enhance two of SAA’s core airport emergency personnel training programmes, namely the Airport Fire Officers and Senior Airport Fire Officers courses, which are conducted twice a year. Together, the two courses have trained more than 1,600 local and foreign participants. In addition to the biannual runs of the courses, SAA conducts customised airport emergency personnel training programmes on request. 

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of CAG said, “As air traffic continues to grow, so too must our capabilities in ensuring a safe and secure airport environment for the travelling public. The next generation simulator will help our AES officers sharpen their operational readiness when responding to aircraft emergencies. It marks yet another step towards maintaining the highest safety standards at Changi Airport.”

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