Partnership Between Kelly Aviation Center and Southwest Research Institute Yields First Training of its Kind for MRO Industry

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, August 31, 2010 – Through a partnership between Kelly Aviation Center, L.L.P. and Southwest Research Institute, a new game-based learning (GBL) program, “Engine Run Testing,” was recently launched that allows jet engine test cell operators to virtually experience several emergency situations and test their reaction, something that, previously, could only be experienced during a real crisis.

The result of the 18-month development project is an engaging, effective training method that augments technical training for test cell operators and increases their retention of what to do in emergency situations, during jet engine testing operations. Final evaluation of the product is projected by the end of September 2010.

“While this is not a new technology, it is a new, innovative application that could literally save lives or the facility, in case of a test cell disaster,” said Chuck Artymovich, president of Kelly Aviation Center. “To the best of our knowledge, this type of training methodology is the first of its kind to be used in the aircraft engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul industry.”

Until now, typical job training for operators included a brief on emergency procedures that relied on procedural memorization, which is not as effective as true, hands-on experience. It is not unusual for highly experienced Test Cell Operators to work for years without ever facing a real emergency.

“Even before I started working at Kelly, I saw guys with years of engine testing experience who never before faced an actual emergency,” said Frank McCall, Kelly’s production operations manager with more than 25 years of engine experience. “And, when something finally happened, they panicked.”

This game-based simulation provides operators hands-on experience of an emergency condition without going through an actual event and an immediate assessment of their reaction to one of several realistic scenarios that were developed by experienced test cell operators. To make the training even more compelling and realistic, the player is not alone. A virtual test cell co-operator and senior mechanic are also in the control room. The player can hear their conversations and what they are doing, as the game proceeds.

“It’s as close to reality as you can get so that, if a real emergency occurs, the experience won’t be new to our operators, and they will know what to do,” continued McCall.

The “Engine Run Testing” simulation will help to prevent injury to personnel, to avoid damage to engines and test equipment, to prepare operators for their annual certification examination and to ensure that operators respond correctly and rationally to an emergency situation.

Located in San Antonio, Texas, Kelly Aviation Center, L.P. is a center of excellence for aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, whose capabilities include engines that power the C-2 Greyhound, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion, F-16 Fighting Falcon, U-2S Dragon Lady, F-15K Eagle, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, the KC-10 aerial tanker and commercial aircraft DC10-30, A300B, and B747-200.