What Pilots Fear Most in the Air: Not a Bomb, Not a Lightning Strike, It’s…

① Air Pilot Flight Simulator Training

Have you ever considered what it would be like to face a life-threatening situation during a flight? Just the thought of it can be terrifying. Pilots, who are in charge of controlling the aircraft, feel an even greater sense of responsibility when faced with such situations. They are responsible for ensuring everyone’s safety when unexpected situations arise.

To prepare for such situations, pilots undergo simulator training. This training is designed to practice how to control the aircraft in the situation of an emergency, in situations that closely resemble actual flights. Even simulators are made by cutting out and attaching the actual cockpits of an aircraft, allowing pilots to feel the exact sensation of operating an aircraft.

The U.S. Army first created simulators in the 1930s for training novice pilots. Even back then, they were not recognized as actual training equipment, but the U.S. Army Air Corps actively utilized simulators. Simulator training was implemented as accidents resulting in the death of pilots with little flight experience frequently occurred in emergencies.

After many training sessions, it started to show effects similar to actual training. Pilots’ ability to handle emergencies improved, and simulators began to be introduced worldwide.

Simulators have now become an essential part of pilot training. Simulators can cost much more than most aircraft, with some costing billions of Korean won each.

The ‘Boss in the Mirror’ on KBS 2TV revealed the inside of an aviation training center. Many were amazed at the simulator, that looked exactly like a real aircraft. The training went on portraying startling and sudden situations like nearly colliding with an aircraft or an engine exploding. The fact that one simulator costs 30 billion won (approximately $26.5 million) became a hot topic.

② Ability to Reproduce Situations Identical to Reality

Despite the high price tag, which is even higher than that of an actual aircraft, airlines own simulators because they do not require additional costs. Simulators do not require fuel or maintenance costs, unlike aircrafts. If pilot training were to be conducted using actual aircraft, it would require tremendous costs.

However, if training is conducted using simulators, expenses can be significantly reduced. Since simulator training feels real, pilots can enhance their skills to handle emergencies.

It feels exactly like flying an actual aircraft. Situations that are difficult to practice in real life, such as emergency landings, engine problems, and bird strikes, can be practiced as much as you want with a simulator. These simulators can vividly recreate these situations.

Even when such emergencies occur during simulator training, no damage occurs. Situations that could have led to major accidents in reality, do not cause any harm during simulator training. In actual pilot training, the importance of simulator training is very high.

According to the Aviation Safety Act, pilots must experience takeoffs and landings at least three times each within 90 days for the respective aircraft model. Even if they do not actually fly the respective model, they can substitute it with simulator training. Captains are legally required to undergo simulator training once every six months. They will be stripped of their pilot qualifications if they fail to pass.

Even veteran captains must continue training regularly, as they never know what situations they may encounter.

③ The Only Simulation Center for LCC

Jeju Air is the only low-cost carrier (LCC) in Korea that owns a simulator. Jeju Air introduced the B737-8 simulator to improve the quality of flight training and efficiently train pilots. The newly introduced simulator costs about 18 billion won (approximately $15.9 million).

Jeju Air’s simulator training is conducted at the training center located at Sky Road Cargo Building in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The simulator that Jeju Air introduced in April last year designed the interior of the simulator nearly 90% similar to the real cockpit. This is the second simulator that was introduced following the first one in 2019.

The 300 captains and 300 co-pilots affiliated with Jeju Air receive simulator training five times a year. About 50 trainees aiming to become flight crew members also have to receive simulator training. They prepare for how to respond to emergencies through simulator training and receive feedback from instructors by watching the recorded training videos.

On foggy days when the runway visibility is poor, the pilot who can fly the aircraft on the day of the flight changes. Pilots need to pass a test through simulator training and other means to obtain an additional qualification that allows them to fly in the cockpit on foggy days.

By. Sung Min Seo