LATAM Cargo Group has introduced virtual reality safety training for warehouse staff at its Miami air cargo hub. The simulators replicate the company's ground infrastructure, so employees can practise operational procedures and respond to real-time scenarios in a controlled digital environment before applying them on the ramp.
The initial phase is expected to involve around 550 warehouse employees, including 250 forklift operators. The company's goal is to improve operational safety.
How the training works
The system was developed with Academia LATAM, the airline group's internal training division. Its scenarios cover six warehouse pedestrian zones, and the 250 forklift operators have three specialised modules of their own. The simulations cover:
- dangerous goods segregation
- cargo handling
- pedestrian movements
- separation of personnel and machinery
The training also measures how employees respond to contingencies, including response times and their ability to identify and mitigate hazards.
Rollout and next steps
The Miami deployment follows an initial rollout for employee onboarding at the Fast Air warehouse in Santiago, Chile. LATAM Cargo said it is assessing whether to extend the system to other hubs in its network, including locations in Brazil.
Chief Operating Officer Daniel Leng said placing teams in critical scenarios within an exact replica of their daily work environment narrows the gap between classroom theory and ramp practice.
