Emirates Introduces Groundbreaking Virtual Safety Training for Cabin Crew
Emirates Airlines is set to revolutionize its cabin crew training by introducing virtual reality-based Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP) training via its immersive platform, MIRA. The new initiative, aimed at enhancing the safety skills of the airline’s 23,000-strong cabin crew, will allow crew members to complete recurrent safety training in a photorealistic virtual environment, using the latest in digital technology.
The MIRA platform features highly realistic, fully modeled cabin interiors of Emirates’ Airbus A380, Boeing 777, and Airbus A350 aircraft. It also includes emergency slides, tarmacs, airbridges, and different views of water and land.
Supported by hyper-realistic audio and images, the platform provides cabin crew with self-guided, multi-player scenarios that simulate standard operating procedures. Crew members can also engage in critical training exercises like aircraft door operations and fire-fighting drills.
The platform’s introduction comes as Emirates embarks on an ambitious growth strategy, with 315 new aircraft on order and a target of expanding its cabin crew to 30,000 by 2030. Capt. Bader Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President of Flight Training at Emirates, emphasized the importance of efficient and scalable training, stating, “With MIRA, we can now quickly and significantly scale up our crew training to meet business demands. This is a bold, brave, and strategic move shaping our training ethos for the future.”
The SEP training on MIRA will begin with modules focused on two key areas of onboard safety: aircraft door operations and fire-fighting. Cabin crew will be able to practice door drills virtually, ensuring they are competent in both normal and emergency operations. Fire-fighting skills will also be sharpened with a variety of scenarios, including fires in ovens, overhead lockers, and lavatories, using realistic simulations of smoke, flames, and fire extinguishing agents.
MIRA’s training modules are available in 3D using virtual reality headsets, enabling up to 10 crew members to train simultaneously in the same scenario. The platform is also accessible in 2D on mobile devices, laptops, and desktops, allowing cabin crew to refresh their knowledge anytime and anywhere, reducing the need for travel to training centers and saving costs. The system offers real-time metrics for trainers to assess performance and fine-tune training programs.
Emirates expects that this immersive training platform will not only enhance crew readiness but also significantly improve customer experience by ensuring that cabin crew are fully prepared to handle any emergency situation onboard. Additionally, the airline is confident that MIRA will reduce ecological impact and operational costs by eliminating the need for extensive physical training facilities.
This latest development builds on Emirates’ pioneering efforts in digital employee experiences. Launched in 2023, MIRA has already transformed how Emirates trains and engages its cabin crew, and the extension into safety training marks another bold step in the airline’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.
