Swinburne’s Aviation Simulators

Researchers use a variety of flight simulators to immerse trainee and experienced pilots in challenging fight scenarios, while monitoring every aspect of their performance with cutting-edge measurement tools.

The results allow them to predict how new cockpit technologies and procedures will work in the real world.

Our technology

The laboratory at Swinburne is equipped with:

• a light aircraft simulator with five-axis motion system – capable of replicating Garmin G1000-equipped Cessna 172 aircraft to train students in real life
• a helicopter simulator with 180-degree visual system 
• a fixed-base procedures simulator around highly automated A320 jet airliner
• a passive eye-tracking camera system for researchers to record where the pilot looks during simulated flights without special glasses
• a variety of PC flight simulators for smaller experiments and prototyping
• virtual reality headsets for visual immersion
• a Cessna 172 aircraft and workbench for simulating hands-on maintenance work.

Future additions

Research currently underway includes:

• the evaluation of emerging technologies for training future pilots
• the impact of Heads Up Guidance Systems and automation on pilot visual attention
• the use of virtual reality as a tool for educating airport and airline service employees.

We hope to further expand the scope and scale of aviation research by working closely with our industry partners.