BetaDraxon VR Training SyllabusDeparting from the Aircraft
Virtual RealityDescription
This lesson trains the safe departure of a towable stairs unit from the aircraft after passenger boarding. Trainees practice retracting both handrails, coordinating aircraft door closure with the cabin crew, retracting stabilizer jacks, and moving the unit to a safe distance before lowering the platform. The focus is on strict sequence discipline, controlled movement around the fuselage, and safe handling of the towbar.
Lesson Overview
- 1Retract the handrails, ensure they are fully locked and coordinate with the cabin crew to close the aircraft door.
- 2Close the safety gate and belt barrier of the stairs. Retract all stabilizer jacks using the pump system to enable moving the stairs away from the aircraft.
- 3Release the towbar and pull back the stairs a short distance from the aircraft.
- 4Lower the platform fully and oversee the handover as a colleague tows it to the next stand.
Skills Acquired
- Securely retract and lock towable stair handrails without damaging the aircraft door.
- Coordinate with the cabin crew using clear visual signals.
- Operate the stabilizer jack system safely.
- Handle and control the towbar correctly to prevent dropping, injuries, or loss of control.
- Apply the correct departure sequence from handrail retraction to platform lowering and towing handover.
Lesson Procedure
- The trainee starts on the apron after boarding is complete and goes up the towable stairs to the platform.
- He pulls the safety gate outward, grabs the left handrail, releases it with the knob, retracts it fully, and checks that it is locked with the mandatory shake-check.
- The trainee signals a thumbs-up to the cabin crew; once the door is closed, he retracts the right handrail using both knobs and verifies the lock with the shake-check.
- He closes the safety gate, goes down the stairs, and secures the belt barrier at the bottom.
- The trainee must select the correct next step from one of three options: lower the platform of the towable stairs, pull the towable stairs away from the aircraft or retract the stabilizer jacks.
- He turns the stabilizer switch at the base of the stairs and pumps the lift pump until all four stabilizer jacks are fully retracted.
- The trainee releases the towbar from its latch while keeping control and lowers it carefully.
- He pulls the towable stairs backward to the marked safe distance from the aircraft, then re-latches the towbar to engage the handbrake.
- The trainee moves to the front of the unit and lowers the platform completely,.
- Finally, he observes a colleague attaching the unit to a tractor and tow it away.
Safety Scenarios & Learnings
Pushing a handrail into the aircraft door
Triggers a rewind and demonstrates that incorrect handling of handrails can lead to non acceptable contact with the aircraft door, triggering a rewind.
Triggers a rewind and demonstrates that incorrect handling of handrails can lead to non acceptable contact with the aircraft door, triggering a rewind.
Moving close to the edge of the plattform
Warns against moving beyond the safe working area on the platform and prohibits entering the aircraft.
Warns against moving beyond the safe working area on the platform and prohibits entering the aircraft.
Lowering the platform at the aircraft door
Triggers a correction message. Lowering the platform when positioned right at the aircraft can cause contact with the fuselage. The platform must only be lowered after the stairs have been pulled a few meters away.
Triggers a correction message. Lowering the platform when positioned right at the aircraft can cause contact with the fuselage. The platform must only be lowered after the stairs have been pulled a few meters away.
Pushing or pulling the stairs into the fuselage
Uses a danger cue and rewind, underlining the importance of controlled movement and safe clearance from the aircraft at all times.
Uses a danger cue and rewind, underlining the importance of controlled movement and safe clearance from the aircraft at all times.
Dropping the towbar
Triggers a critical warning and rewind when the towbar is dropped, teaching that the towbar must always be under control to prevent injuries and equipment damage.
Triggers a critical warning and rewind when the towbar is dropped, teaching that the towbar must always be under control to prevent injuries and equipment damage.
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