Half a Boeing 787 Dreamliner is tucked away in a warehouse in South Auckland — and it could save your life.
Seven Sharp reporter Mary-Jane Aggett was given a behind-the-scenes look at Air New Zealand’s new 787 Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer, a high-tech device that provides a realistic space for training cabin crew and pilots.
“It’s critical for all airlines, not just Air New Zealand, to make sure people are safe,” said David Morgan, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer.
The device contains 52 fully functioning seats across Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Premier, including the airline's new Business Premier Luxe.
Additionally, the trainer provides a realistic space that replicates the layout of the airline's new 787 cabins, which will be introduced over the coming years.
The device can create hundreds of possible scenarios – all with realistic sound effects and environmental scenes.
“Being able to be in the scenario to have the simulation, which is very realistic, is fantastic,” explained Morgan.
The crew could practice as a team and run through virtual scenarios. During Seven Sharp's tour, the cabin crew simulated an engine fire on landing.
Smoke filled the cabin, and alarms rang as the team conducted the drill. Virtual emergency slides burst out of the doors onto a forest floor and the ocean.
“We spend a lot of time training our crew,” said cabin crew training manager Anne-Maree O’Leary.
“Not only initially, but they will spend the rest of their career, both pilots and cabin crew, annually on refresher courses.”
The virtual scenarios included anything from emergency landings to luggage fires in the overhead lockers.
“We obviously go through emergency procedures training extensively. The crew have security training for unruly passenger-type events; we train in dangerous goods, human factors and extensive first aid.”
The training should give the crew – and the public – confidence.
“It’s incredibly unlikely that any of the situations that we train for will ever occur," said O’Leary.
"But, if something should occur, we know hand-on-heart that our crew are able to respond and feel comfortable in that situation – that they’ll be able to respond in those situations and do the right thing.”
The device is designed for hands-on use. Seven Sharp certainly learned by doing — trying the evacuation slide.
"You go faster than you think," warned O’Leary.
Clad in standard-issue Air New Zealand overalls, there was no time to worry about being scared of heights.
I whizzed down the slide, and before I knew it, I was staring at the ceiling – thanking my lucky stars I wasn't bobbing around in the middle of the ocean somewhere.
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