Business Jet Rebuilt to Rehearse Cabin Emergencies

CrewSafety is transforming a Bombardier Challenger 605 into a Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) at its Melbourne training facility in Australia, with Spatial Composite Solutions delivering specialist engineering and systems integration. The project will give crews the opportunity to practise emergency procedures inside a genuine business jet cabin.

The aircraft’s original structure and much of its interior have been retained, including the cabin, galley and flight deck. Spatial is integrating a new training door, replacement electrical systems and visual systems to enable a range of realistic, scenario-based exercises.

The CEET is being developed for business aviation crews and personnel working in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, law enforcement, rescue and aeromedical operations.

Joseph Marks, CEO of CrewSafety Australia, said: “In an emergency, crews need to make decisions and act quickly in the environment they know. That is why we wanted to start with a real aircraft. Spatial is helping us turn an exceptionally well-preserved Challenger into a training device that will let crews practise in an authentic cabin and build confidence for the moments that matter most.”

Converting an existing jet presents a different challenge from building a simulator from scratch. Every new training system must be integrated around the aircraft’s original structure and interior while preserving the features that make the experience realistic.

Marc Van den Broucque, Managing Partner at Spatial Composite Solutions, said: “This is a particularly interesting project as it is exceedingly rare to be offered an airframe in such good, and complete, condition. The challenge has been integrating the functionality CrewSafety needs while retaining the authenticity of the original business jet wherever possible. It’s exactly the kind of bespoke engineering challenge our team enjoys taking on.”