How CAD Drawings Help You Build Better Training

Posted on May 7, 2008
Filed Under Techniques |

Teaching the operation or maintenance of complex aircraft systems, from landing gears to flight controls, requires realistic representations. Sometimes a single model can be acquired for a classroom, such as an engine cutaway. However, these models are expensive to produce, and let’s face it, don’t travel well.

Therefore, in order to build the most effective training you must create digital representations of your aircraft. The good news is that most modern aircraft have been built using CAD (Computer Aided Design) drawings, often using Dassault Systemes CATIA. These drawings can then be translated into formats that allow courseware designers and SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) to create instructional materials that can be used within Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat documents - and even within a web browser.

In summary, CAD drawings help you build better training by:

• Saving time in courseware development versus photographic modeling
• Carrying key metadata from CAD drawings such as part names and assembly hierarchy
• Producing very accurate representations for use in aircraft operations or sustainment training

I will discuss more specific tools and techniques used in the CAD to courseware pipeline in upcoming entries.

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