Customer story: Avinor ANS Simulation Project

Innovative use of technology and a creative approach to delivery was required to complete a complex eight-month project to install 16 TotalControl simulators across six sites throughout Norway.

About the customer and project

Avinor Air Navigation Services (ANS) is a wholly-owned state limited company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, and is responsible for 44 state-owned airports.

In May 2020 Airways International Ltd (AIL) signed a contract with Avinor ANS to install six large tower, four surveillance and six mobile simulators across six sites throughout Norway, with 17 aerodrome environments in total. The project also included six mobile simulators, and a five-year contract for simulator licence, support and maintenance.

With the Airways and Avinor ANS teams working thousands of kilometres apart and with travel and border restrictions in place due to Covid-19, an agile approach and close collaboration between AIL and Avinor ANS was key.

The first challenge was a 1 October 2020 go-live date for the Oslo Airport tower simulator – the deadline enabling Avinor ANS to commence training as air traffic ramped up again. The December 2020 completion date for the entire project was a far greater challenge given the scale of the project and Covid-19 adding extra complexities.

Airways' solution

Following the immense challenges facing AIL as a result of Covid-19 border and travel restrictions, the business needed to reimagine the way it designed, deployed and delivered its air traffic control simulators globally.

As Covid-19 swept its way around the world creating global havoc in early 2020, the AIL team need to quickly kick into gear and start to put its Covid-19 mitigation plan into place for the Avinor project - the first simulator installation post Covid-19 for the team.

Creative use of technology enabled factory acceptance testing to be delivered from New Zealand, with the team from Avinor participating from Norway. AIL’s simulator specialists guided Avinor technicians through the installation of hardware, and simulator user training was delivered remotely via the Airways Knowledge Online (AKO) virtual academy. Site acceptance testing was led by Avinor in Norway, with seamless engagement by AIL staff remotely.

The Oslo Airport simulator installation was the first TotalControl simulator to be installed remotely by AIL - believed to be the first remote installation and site acceptance testing of a simulator internationally.

The benefits of remote installation

The success of the Avinor ANS remote simulator installation and commissioning project has opened the door to a new approach to simulator deliveries, as the world recovers from the impacts of Covid-19.

Empowering customers to take ownership of hardware procurement and installation, supported by world-class training and support, has numerous benefits for both the customer and AIL as a supplier.

These benefits include a smaller carbon footprint; cost savings through locally procured hardware; reduction of travel; a higher level of engagement from onsite end users through increased involvement in the installation phase; and reduced delivery timelines as shipping and travel bottlenecks are removed.