Brussels Airport advances airside training with new driving simulator
In line with its commitment to operational excellence and safety, Brussels Airport has integrated a state‑of‑the‑art airside driving simulator into its training programme. The simulator, developed and deployed by Velocity Airport Solutions, enables airside vehicle drivers to practise manoeuvring, situational awareness and risk‑mitigation in a realistic, virtual apron environment.
The initiative directly supports Brussels Airport’s goal of reducing ground‑incident exposure, enhancing driver competence and optimising training efficiency. By using the simulator, the airport can replicate complex scenarios (such as aircraft proximity, foreign object debris, towing operations and emergency vehicle access) without disrupting live airside operations.
Key benefits for Brussels Airport include:
- Enhanced safety: Simulated replication of high‑risk apron situations enables drivers to build proficiency in a controlled environment before entering live operations.
- Operational efficiency: Training can be scheduled flexibly, without tying up vehicles or apron space, and can serve multiple driver cohorts per day.
- Cost reduction: The need for live‑vehicle fuel, runway/aircraft disruption and ancillary support is reduced.
- Sustainability: As a virtual training tool, the simulator contributes to the airport’s broader sustainability targets by lowering vehicular use for training.
In collaboration with Velocity Airport Solutions, Brussels Airport tailored the simulator’s scenario library to reflect its own apron layout, traffic flows and operational zones. The customisation allows drivers to rehearse movement between aircraft stands, manoeuvres around service roads, and coordination with both ramp‑handling equipment and aircraft.
Velocity Airport Solutions confirms that the deployment marks one of the first implementations of its airside driving‑simulator offering in mainland Europe. The company emphasises its solution’s modular architecture, allowing scenario packs, vehicle models and apron templates to be tailored per customer. Additional features include multi‑user mode, debrief‑analytics, and cloud‑enabled recording for instructor review.
For further insight, Velocity Airport Solutions has shared a project video showcasing the simulator in action: Airside Driving Simulator BRU