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	+ Home Search Aviation Systems		Ramp-Tower Controller Training Ramp Tower A, San Francisco International Airport Contents Study Objective Customer Benefits Customer Comments FutureFlight Central + Overview + Applications + Air Traffic Generator + Business Guide + Projects + Naming of FFC + Multimedia Gallery SimLabs + VMS + CVSRF Study Objective San Francisco International Airport has recently added two new international terminals as part of a major construction effort. Airport Group International (AGI) has been contracted to operate Ramp Tower A, located on top of the new international terminal A. AGI's Pier A operation runs on a 24x7 schedule, handling approximately 215 flights per day generated from 22 air carriers. AGI controller-trainees received their initial training at the NASA Ames Research Center's FutureFlight Central Facility. The objective of the training was to provide controllers with a realistic operational scenario in the safety of a simulated environment. The trainees were provided a 360° visual representation of the view from the ramp tower in different weather conditions. A team of "pseudo-pilots" taxied aircraft into and out of the 26-gate ramp area. The pilots were in two-way radio communication with the controller-trainees, who directed the aircraft into and out of the ramp area in real-life traffic flow situations. Each trainee was put in charge of an hour-long scenario which varied from a slow tempo to one requiring more complex coordination skills. + Back to Top Customer Benefits Using the facility, AGI was better able to understand the staffing and knowledge requirements to run the new ramp facility. Based on their experience in NASA FutureFlight Central, AGI was able to convince senior management that greater staffing levels and experience were required to successfully run the facility. + Back to Top Customer Comments "[NASA's FutureFlight Central provided] the very best training environment possible," said Robert Peterson, Ramp Tower Manager for AGI. "We would like to spend more time in the facility." + Back to Top Birdseye view - San Francisco International Airport     Ramp Tower "A" - The red outlined area is the responsibility for Tower A 120° View of Ramp Area from Ramp Tower "A"
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