Solutions for simulating the real tough situations

By VNE

Vestnorsk Engineering AS has for almost 30 years been a provider of special engineering, solving complex problems for their customers. What VNE make are not mass produced. Everything that they deliver is specially designed to fit their customer’s needs and demands.

The unique composition of knowledge makes VNE one of Norway`s most versatile product and engineering companies.

VNE was established in 1989 and have since then turned out to be a comprehensive company that delivers advanced equipment and services in a wide range of markets:
• Equipment for the offshore industry
• Ship Equipment
• Deck Machinery (Through the company NDM)
• Shipyard Equipment
• Industry Equipment
• Simulators

Extensive experience within the areas underneath solves the most complex tasks:
• Strength calculations
• Lifetime calculations
• Hydraulic systems
• Pneumatic systems
• Automation systems
• Ship and industry production
• Company consulting
• Design and multi discipline engineering
• Production, layout and planning systems

The company’s know how, innovation and experience is the customers safety and provides the best solution to whatever problem the customer describes

VNE takes care of the total process from initial planning, through manufacturing and testing and all the way to installation, commissioning and training.

The company specializes in complex systems, with heavy steel structures combined with hydraulic equipment or other high pressure fluids.

One important part of what VNE has done the last couple of years, have been to develop and deliver advanced simulators for different customers.

Examples to be mentioned  are VNE`s simulators for training personnel in fire fighting onboard aircrafts  and training personnel aboard ships in battle to handle typical damages.

With today´s demand for security,  it is a challenge to make training of personnel as realistic as possible. This is the case in range of industries. We have been privileged to design and deliver highly advanced simulators for both AVINOR and The Royal Norwegian Navy.

In 2006 Avinor (The Norwegian Aviation Society) decided that all major airports in Norway were going to have modern and environmentally friendly fire training possibilities.
VNE won the contract in close race with other contractors.

During this process, VNE worked closely together with AVINOR to meet all the reqirements and challenges Avinor presented.

For Avinor, VNE have up till now designed and delivered 10 out of 11 Simulators. These have shown to be a successful implementation to several of their airports.

At Værnes Airport in Trondheim the simulator is a part of a big Fire and Rescue center. At this center the airport personnel are trained in dealing with fire inside and outside aircrafts, rescuing passengers and crew from accidents and dealing with smoke development.


The VNE Aircraft Fire Training Simulator is a category 6/7; Doors, wings and engine position  represents the configuration of a Boeing 737 and Fokker 50/Dash 8. The main task is to give the crew on the airport training in dealing with aircraft accidents as close to reality as possible.

The simulator has eight different fire scenarios and is 100% remote controlled from a control unit placed 50 meters in front of the simulator.

This was the main challenge for the engineers while making the prototype, since the temperature gets extremely high.

Our delivery to The Norwegian Aviation authorities has been
• Design and manufacturing of the Aircraft Fire Training Simulator
• Steel structure consisting of fuselage with five doors, wings and two wheel legs, one propeller engine and one jet engine
• Interior:
   - Cockpit with two seats
   - Forward passenger area with four rows of seating
   - Overhead luggage compartment
   - Movable wood furnace
   - Separate room for smoke generator with power supply, external access and smoke distribution to the cockpit and to the cabin.
   - Emergency exits

• Eight fire scenarios including pipes, nozzles an valves
• Control unit with complete control system
• Fuel tank
• Electrical cabling, lights
• Documentation
• Instruction manuals
• Complete testing and commissioning of each simulator
• Training of crew and instructors.

It is a user friendly simulator when it comes to maintenance and service and it has
a low fuel consumption, which makes it an environmentally right solution for our customers.
The simulator is designed in a way that makes it easy to add additional fire scenarios if required.

When the Norwegian Navy needed a new simulator for their naval practice field (HAS) at Haakonsvern in Bergen, they did not find anything that matched their requirements. Therefore they decided to get it custom built.

VNE was fortunate to get the contract for the new naval simulator.

As mentioned before, the damage repair simulator simulates the damage typical for a battle ship. The main task is to give the crew onboard a navy vessel training in handling damages as close to reality as possible. By using the damage repair simulator, the navy is training  people in preventing water break-through on a vessel caused by running aground or by typical damages made by granates, torpedos or bullets. Built to replicate the inner design of a ship the damage repair simulator consists of a two decks and one weather deck. Each training section is designed to make the impression of being onboard a real ship with water pipes, ventilation system and realistic sounds. On each deck there is two training sections. 20-24 students can practise at the same time.

While in use, the simulator can be filled with 60 000 litres of water.

The 50 tons steel structure is 8x5x6 meters and can turn 15 degrees to each side with an interval down to five seconds. It can also be stopped in any position during the exercise.

Representing the motion of the sea, the simulator rolls whilst cold water floods in from numerous “damage points”. The students must work as a team to repair the holes as battle sounds fills the air.

Commander, Erik Eikeland explains how the old training ground had limited possibilities and how necessary and effective it is to have “dry” practice repeatedly.

“The need for practical, real life practice in addition to theoretical learning is high to make our personnel well prepared to meet demanding situations during peace, crisis situations and war” says Eikeland.

The delivery from VNE to the Norwegian Navy included:
• Design and manufacturing of the damage repair simulator training tank (Hull section) including  23 various training objects
• Drainage system inside and out from the simulator to the storage tank with valves
• Design and delivery of the hydraulic system for movement of the simulator.
• Water supply for circulation of high and low pressure water.
• Complete control system
• Light, heating and electrical cabling for the simulator
• Ventilation plant
• Documentation
• Complete testing and commissioning of the simulator on ground
• Spare parts
• Instruction  manuals
• Training of crew and instructors

Encouraging quick thinking and a fast response, high levels of communication and team work, training in simulators provides a unique practical learning experience for the people involved.

Followed by skilled instructors in both the aircraft fire training simulator and the damage repair simulator, effective training is run in both controlled and safe environments.

Contact details:
Vestnorsk Engineering AS (VNE)
T: +47 56 30 32 80, F: +47 56 30 32 82, E: office@vne.no, W: www.vne.no