Emirates Airlines has launched an interactive aviation experience under its Air Line cable car in North Greenwich.
‘The Emirates Aviation Experience is a veritable Aladdin’s cave of technological wizardry and gizmos that will give people of all ages a real insight into the wonders of flying,’ said mayor Boris Johnson at the launch. Emirates CEO, Tim Clark, was also present at the occasion.
The highlights of the London event include aircraft simulators and educational displays covering all aspects of aviation, with the main draw being four flight simulators, including two A380 superjumbo cockpits and two B777s. The interactive and educational displays also include:
*A Rolls Royce Trent 800 jet engine partially built in Lego, and a virtual wind tunnel application, where visitors can test the aerodynamics of an aircraft wing and its effect on lift, drag and efficiency.
*A touch-screen game showing the complex elements in the turnaround of an A380, where visitors must beat the clock unloading and reloading passengers, luggage, fuel and food.
*A 3D movie showing a bag’s journey through the complex underground handling system and onto the plane at Dubai airport.
*A replica of Emirates’ A380 economy class seating, with a range of aviation themed videos displayed on the seat back screens.
*A scale mock-up of the A380 cockpit showing what a pilot does in the air, including a photo opportunity in the captain’s seat, which can be shared on social media.
The launch also brought to the fore the ongoing issue of London’s airport capacity. Both Clark and Johnson urged the need to address the capital’s short and long-term aviation capacity issues. ‘It’s a decision that has to be taken very quickly, you’re doing yourselves no favours by dilly-dallying and also contemplating projects that have timelines that possibly won’t do the job in the short term,’ Clark said.
‘The message for the government is, whatever you decide about those runways, get on with it, because Britain really can’t afford to hang around,’ Johnson said, adding, ‘It’s not a matter of engineering, it’s not a matter of money, it’s a question of political will.’
‘I hope very much that members of the cabinet will be the first to take their kids, or come themselves and enjoy this fantastic experience,’ Johnson remarked.
The Emirates Aviation Experience also features a gift shop, cafe and outdoor dining area underneath the Air Line cable car, leading down to the river. Located next to the Greenwich Peninsula terminal of the Emirates Air Line cable car, the event will be open daily from 0800 to 1900 from July 6, and has a capacity of around 120.
For advance online booking, the simulator experience will start from £45 for a 30-minute slot. Entrance to the Emirates Aviation Experience alone will be £3 for adults and £1.50 for children under the age of 12.
