Nationwide Platforms Enhances Safety with VR Training Technology
Nationwide Platforms, a leader in at-height safety solutions, has recently incorporated an advanced virtual reality (VR) training technology into its practice, which is designed to enhance on-site safety and operator competence across the aviation sector and beyond.
The aviation industry's reliance on mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) for maintenance tasks has grown substantially. However, there is an increasing need to improve MEWP operator competence among professionals working at airport facilities, so that they can perform a growing list of complex operations around high value assets. Nationwide Platforms directly addresses this challenge by enabling operators to gain hands-on experience in a risk-free environment through VR training.
The award-winning MEWP VR Simulator, developed by Serious Industrial Motion Simulations (SIMS), is a portable, on-site solution that Nationwide Platforms provides to all its aviation customers for the length of their project.
The VR Simulator offers 23 task-specific scenarios focused on working around aircraft, including modules on APU bay-access, crown and tail access, doors access and many others. This tool allows operators to refine their skills in complex maneuver, such as navigating MEWPs around the curved surfaces of aircraft wings, tail sections, and other critical areas. With real-world machine controls and highly realistic motion feedback, the simulator is proven to predict operator behaviours and reduce incident rates by up to 97 percent.
The MEWP VR Simulator is designed to upskill operators efficiently, with modules that identify skill gaps and deliver customised training recommendations. Within a 30-minute session, the system can evaluate the proficiency of new operators or refresh the skills of experienced personnel. Repeated practice of high-risk manoeuvres in a controlled digital environment builds operator confidence and ensures that they are fully prepared to handle the unique challenges of aviation maintenance.
Matthew Parfitt, head of business development -- aviation at Nationwide Platforms, said: “Safety in the digital age is about leveraging advanced technologies to empower operators and prevent accidents before they happen. As the digital age continues to redefine safety standards, Nationwide Platforms is committed to leading the charge in creating safer, more efficient training methods for the aviation and powered access industries.
“Our implementation of the SIMS VR training solution represents the future of safety training, ensuring that every operator is equipped with the skills they need to perform their tasks confidently and safely.”
