Emirates has appointed Cubic Global Defense to develop a virtual, game-based training program for its cabin crew. This will be the first time in the aviation industry a commercial airline will use in-depth game-based instruction with an integrated training approach.

The program, currently in development, will complement the airline’s existing world-class training facilities at the Emirates Aviation College — Crew Training in Dubai.

Using a combination of virtual learning content and gamification both online and in classrooms, the new curriculum will allow Emirates’ cabin crew to learn and practice the skills required to ensure the highest levels of safety and service on board. It will facilitate a more immersive learning experience which has been proven to increase knowledge retention by 65 percent.

The science-based learning approach can be customized to support several training modules, increasing operational efficiency at the training college.

With the new system, Emirates can better cater to its expanding crew population while maintaining the quality and effectiveness of its training. Aircraft familiarization is among the new content being developed, allowing cabin crew to fully immerse themselves in a virtual walk-through of both the interior and exterior of the aircraft.

Catherine Baird, Emirates’ SVP, cabin crew training, explains: “We constantly revise our training curriculum to use innovative and cutting-edge learning tools. This is our biggest investment in crew training since we introduced our full-motion, high-fidelity aircraft simulators.”

“We’re proud to be working with Emirates in a commercial aviation industry first,” said Bill Toti, president of Cubic Global Defense.

Cubic Global Defense, a business unit of Cubic Corporation, has extensive experience in designing and operating training technology focused in the transportation and defense training markets. They are also developing similar game-based training solutions for the US Navy.