Airservices Australia's Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) service has won an international award for its industry leading application of virtual reality to facilitate immersive learning.
ARFF is the only national aviation rescue fire service - a rapid intervention, first-response functionality which engages within minutes to provide aviation rescue and fire fighting services at 27 of Australia's busiest airports.
Our Melbourne ARFF Training Academy's innovative use of XVR Simulation training software during training workshops has seen it recently proudly accept a Platinum LearnX Award at the Melbourne Convention Centre in the Best in Virtual Reality category.
The LearnX Awards honour achievements in learning, development and talent management across the corporate, education and public-service sectors worldwide. Airservices now joins a prestigious cohort of previous award winners, including Qantas Airways, Rio Tinto, the World Health Organisation and more.
Airservices' award category focused on an industry specific training project that an enterprise implemented using virtual reality (VR) to drive and support talent development.
Airservices' awards submission, and subsequent win, showcases the work of Melbourne ARFF's Training Instructors Nathan Smith, Nathan Menzies and Alex Babinsky, under Fire Fighter Training Lead James Harington's leadership. The "awesome foursome" has taken the VR application to the next level - supporting its implementation with research, industry collaboration and continuous improvement.
"We're super proud of this outstanding achievement," said James.
"Our team's excellence and innovation in VR has seen us demonstrate our training prowess to the Australian Fire and Emergency Services Council, New Zealand Fire Chiefs Forum and Norfolk Island Fire Service - and overseas with counterparts in the UK and Europe."
Airservices' Head of Operational Training and Resourcing Marcus Knauer commended the ARFF team for their award win.
"This accolade is very exciting and well-deserved for the team - well done!" Marcus said.
"It further demonstrates Airservices' excellence and innovation in training - and boosts ARFF's safe and efficient air traffic management services at 27 of Australia's busiest airports."
Pictured above: Melbourne ARFF Training Academy's Training Instructors Nathan Menzies and Nathan Smith with Fire Fighter Training Lead James Harington.
About Airservices
Airservices Australia is responsible for the safe and efficient management of 11 per cent of the world's airspace and the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia's busiest airports. We connect people with their world safely - linking family and friends, generating economic activity, creating jobs and facilitating trade and tourism.
