How a Ground Handling Simulator Can Benefit Your Company
During one of our meetings with potential collaborators, we were asked a simple but important question: “Okay, fine. But what can a simulator like this actually offer me, as an operational training manager?”
At first, we thought the answer was obvious — after all, we've been developing this solution for quite a while. But looking back, that question made us realize it’s the perfect moment to clearly explain what an Airport Ground Handling Simulator can really offer.
Saving Money
Let’s not start with money… but we kind of have to. From a business perspective, yes — a simulator saves you money. Not just by avoiding costs but by investing wisely in pre-training and mid-training for your ground handling staff.
Sure, it's not real life — but that's the point. Isn't it ideal to familiarize your new hires with procedures and equipment before putting them into a real vehicle on the apron? Fewer accidents, less damage, and more budget left for what really matters.
And it's not just for beginners. Experienced ground handlers also benefit, especially when something changes on the apron — which, as you know, happens often. Instead of expecting your staff to read five pages of operational changes and hope they get it right, you can simply show them in a simulator.
Changeable Environment — Constant Updates
Aprons are constantly evolving. Maybe a new power station is being installed for electric vehicles, or taxiways are being rerouted. That daily route someone’s driven for five years suddenly changes — and confusion follows:
“When did this happen?”
“How was I supposed to know?”
These changes introduce real safety risks. A GSE simulator allows your team to visualize and understand updates before stepping onto the real apron.
New Vehicles, New Procedures
Airports are expanding. Fleets are evolving. From electric pushbacks like the Phoenix, to modern buses and de-icers, new equipment is becoming the norm.
With a simulator, you can prepare your team in advance, saving valuable time. When the new fleet arrives, your crew will already know how to handle it — they’ll be ready for real-world action from day one.
Training in Specific Weather Conditions
Some procedures require very specific weather. Think about de-icing operations — you simply can’t train for them during most of the year in many regions. Or consider pushbacks during icy conditions — an extremely risky operation that most drivers only learn theoretically.
Our simulator changes that. It doesn't just show snow or ice — it mimics how vehicles behave under those exact conditions. This matters a lot when tiny speed differences can completely affect aircraft positioning.
Terrain & Surface Conditions
We’ve also built in realistic terrain and surface response. Whether you're dealing with bumpy taxiways, sloped roads, or even mountainous layouts, the simulator reacts as the real equipment would.
Speed control, steering accuracy, and braking behavior all change depending on the environment — just like in real life.
More Eco-Friendly Training
Let’s not forget the environmental angle. Instead of running hundreds of training hours on real vehicles, burning fuel and electricity, you can move many of those sessions into a simulator.
This isn’t about replacing real training — it’s about optimizing it. Your team still needs hands-on practice. But by covering the first stages in a simulator, you're making your process greener, safer, and more efficient.
In Conclusion
These are just a few of the confirmed benefits we've heard directly from airports, ground handling companies and training teams.
We’re not here to say that our Airport Training Simulator should replace real-world training. But in today’s environment, where efficiency, safety, and adaptability are more important than ever, a ground handling simulator has become an essential tool in modern training programs.
It’s already helping, and it could be helping your team too.
