Imagine you’re sitting next to Seraina in the cockpit of the Airbus A320. It’s dark outside, but the cockpit instruments are brightly lit. The aircraft is taxiing on the runway of the simulated Zurich airport. The destination: picturesque Nice on the French Riviera. But the journey is far from a routine flight Shortly after take-off, you're faced with engine failure, an oncoming aircraft and sudden decompression. How would you react? Immerse yourself in the video with SWISS trainee pilots Seraina Schwenk and Matthias Bergmann as they navigate the world of the simulator.

Simulator training is an essential part of becoming a SWISS pilot. In addition to routine flight operations, emergency scenarios such as the one described above are specifically practised. Seraina and her training partner Matthias have mastered what might appear to outsiders to be a very stressful scenario. They've already spent many hours in the flight simulator demonstrating their ability to react and remain calm under pressure. While instructor and SWISS First Officer Robert "Rob" Döring simulates various emergency scenarios on the screen, Seraina and Matthias act as they would in real life. Together, they will spend a total of 92 hours in the simulator before moving on to landing training in a real commercial aircraft. The training sessions form a strong bond. Soon they will be flying into the sun from the cockpit of a real Airbus A320.

Did you know?

• Realistic experience: The flight simulator at the Lufthansa Aviation Training Centre operates on electrically powered platforms that authentically replicate every phase of flight - from take-off to landing. Every tilt and turbulence is simulated with astonishing realism. The cockpit instruments and displays are identical to those of a real aircraft, making training highly practical.
• Heavy Duty: A full-flight simulator weighs between 12 and 15 tonnes and is equipped with the latest technology to simulate a wide range of scenarios.
• 24/7 operation: The seven full-flight simulators for Airbus, Boeing and Embraer types at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland are in operation around the clock. These include a Challenger 650 and a helicopter simulator. These state-of-the-art training facilities are used not only by SWISS pilots, but also by other airlines, the Swiss Air Force and REGA. The eighth simulator, an Airbus A350, will go into operation in December.
• The 80/20 rule: Approximately 80% of the time in the full-flight simulator is devoted to emergency training, ensuring that pilots are prepared for all eventualities.
• 16 hours: This is the number of hours a certified SWISS pilot must spend in the simulator each year as part of recurrent training.
• 2½ years: The complete pilot training takes about two and a half years. It includes practical training in the flight simulator and in both small and large aircraft, as well as extensive theory in subjects such as meteorology, aerodynamics and crew management.

Ready for take-off?