How to Use ThingLink for Aviation Safety Training

Kyla Ball March 31, 2025

The high-stakes nature of aviation safety demands effective and engaging training methods. Traditional employee training approaches such as instructor-led training and manuals often struggle to capture the complexity of real-world scenarios.

ThingLink’s interactive visual media transforms safety training by offering immersive, scenario-based learning experiences. This is the reason it’s increasingly used by learning and development specialists in aviation, defence, manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

Why Aviation Safety Training Needs a Modern Approach

The challenge:

Aviation safety requires mastery of complex procedures and emergency protocols from all employees – from ground staff to cabin crew. However conventional training programs often fail to simulate real-life scenarios effectively. E-learning modules can be repetitive and lack stimulation and engagement.

The solution:

ThingLink is an AI-assisted immersive content creation platform for training and education that integrates with any existing digital learning infrastructure – LMS or LXP, VR and XR headsets, and shared immersive spaces. Interactive training with ThingLink improves retention, situational awareness, and decision-making skills. It can also be developed and delivered faster and more economically than traditional training methods or e-learning modules. 

Key Features of ThingLink for Aviation Safety Training

Interactive Images, Maps and Infographics:

The interactive hotspots in ThingLink’s visual media can contain text, images, audio, video, or links to provide layered information to the learner. 

• Annotate cockpit controls, aircraft parts, or safety equipment. 
• An interactive terminal map can highlight emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and first aid stations, with links to response protocols and more detail.
• Convert standard operating procedures (SOPs) into visual, interactive guides. ThingLink’s AI tools can help you create interactive, immersive learning experiences in minutes. 
• Pre-flight checklists explained with interactive visuals, helping crew members verify each step more effectively.

360° Virtual Tours:

• Create realistic walkthroughs of aircraft interiors, hangars, maintenance areas and any other specialist zones. Ideal for safe onboarding new employees before taking them on-site. 
• Annotate complex machinery 360 visuals with technical details and maintenance protocols.
• Use 360° environments to allow learners to explore different safety zones and identify potential hazards in the work environment in virtual training experiences. 
• ThingLink is the only authoring tool that allows creators to combine images, video, 360 media and 3d models so seamlessly into the same learning environment
• Share the same immersive learning content across any device: as interactive desktop modules via online learning, on your LMS, via VR headsets, shared immersive spaces or even via mobile devices. 

Scenario-Based Learning with ThingLink Scenario Builder:

Simulate emergency situations with branching scenarios. Ideally suited for aviation employees to practice soft skills such as communication training, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

• For your training content creators, editable templates and AI-powered course creation assist at every step to ensure training scenarios are as realistic and engaging as possible. 
• For your learners, interactive learning improves knowledge retention. Decision-making prompts test their responses and understanding. With ThingLink it’s easy to transform learning content into problem-based formats such as escape rooms that can be used by individuals or teams.   

• Situational awareness and threat management: Teach personnel how to identify and mitigate risks before they escalate. 
• Practice a cabin depressurization or equipment failure scenario, evacuation procedures, or emergency landings.
• Prevent common runway and ground handling accidents: Improve ramp safety and aircraft movement awareness training by incorporating 360° media in a branching scenario for improved spatial awareness. 
• An ideal environment in which to practice communication skills in an emergency situation, such as communicating effectively with ground control or passengers.

Augmented Reality training

ThingLink AR Solution is the easiest way to create and share AR training that can be delivered on any mobile device. Create interactive AR content easily using the ThingLink multimedia editor, with the same easy-to-master functionality. 

For aircraft systems and maintenance safety, ThingLink’s AR Solution ensures engineers and maintenance personnel understand aircraft systems, risk assessments, and safety protocols. ThingLink AR is particularly suitable for creating and deploying ongoing training and troubleshooting for maintenance procedures.

Multilingual and Accessibility Support:

ThingLink helps support your global teams by offering almost instant AI-powered translation of immersive safety training materials into multiple languages – currently 29 and expanding all the time. In addition, baked-in accessibility tools such as Microsoft Immersive Reader and the ThingLink Accessibility Player, closed captions and alt text functionality give you the ability to ensure that your training is an inclusive as possible for all your learners. 

Benefits of Using ThingLink for Aviation Safety Training

Enhanced Engagement and Better Knowledge Retention:

In ThingLink, learners can interact with challenging scenarios, boosting engagement and understanding. Visual, interactive content improves long-term memory retention and recall. 

Using ThingLink Scenario Builder can further enhance learning by adding realistic time pressures. Problem-based learning experiences put skills into context and test application of key competencies against realistic situations. 

Cost-Effective and Time Efficient Course Creation and Development:

ThingLink’s AI-assisted content creation allows for fast and efficient building and cloning of training content. Any existing course materials in PDF or PowerPoint format can be uploaded alongside a simple text prompt, and converted into a scenario-based learning experience. Choose from one of four different structures, including Escape Room and Branched. AI assisted 2D and 360 image generation tools provide speedy production of immersive training. 

Choices and paths can be easily tracked using learning analytics, enabling trainers to identify learning gaps, and also providing valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the training content. ThingLink learning materials can be edited centrally and updates are instantly made everywhere that the material is shared. 

Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Course Delivery 

ThingLink immersive training simulations reduce the need for expensive physical training setups. Immersive learning modules can be delivered on any platform – from VR headsets, to shared immersive spaces that allow learners to train together. 

Cloud-based, cross-platform content allows for remote, on-demand access, for continuous learning anywhere and at any time. Allow your learners to familiarise themselves with new environments, protocols or technology in the safest possible way, without any danger to themselves, to their colleagues or to expensive equipment. 

Customized landing pages allow you to group and deliver training modules in an easy-to-access format for different groups of trainees.

Incorporating ThingLink into aviation safety training offers a powerful, modern solution to the industry’s evolving needs. By transforming static content into immersive, scenario-based learning experiences, ThingLink enhances engagement, retention, and decision-making skills. Its versatility – combining interactive visuals, 360° environments, scenarios, virtual and augmented reality – makes ThingLink a valuable tool for creating realistic and effective training programs. Multilingual support, accessibility features, and seamless integration into existing learning platforms, ensures that aviation safety training with ThingLink is not only thorough and engaging but also inclusive and scalable.

As the aviation industry continues to prioritize safety and efficiency, adopting innovative tools like ThingLink is a crucial step towards building a highly skilled and prepared workforce.

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