CAE to enhance air traffic controller training with CAE Ridge™
CAE announced today at Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 that it is expanding the use of CAE Ridge™, its proven and advanced 3D visualisation tool, to its Air Traffic Services training offering. CAE Ridge™ enhances Air Traffic Controller training by introducing immersive, collaborative scenarios that accelerate learning and improve operational decision-making.
This commercial off-the-shelf solution, already in use in military applications by CAE Defense & Security, is now being leveraged to elevate both civil and defence Air Traffic Services training solutions. CAE Ridge™ reinforces CAE’s commitment to deliver innovative, digitally powered training tools that can reduce time to licensing, strengthen operational readiness, and support the long-term transformation goals of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and Air Traffic Organisations (ATOs).
“CAE Ridge™ represents a meaningful advancement in preparing tomorrow’s air traffic controllers,” said Emmanuel Levitte, Chief Technology Officer, CAE. “By introducing immersive 3D visualization early in the training process, we help build confidence, competencies and situational awareness faster, increasing the effectiveness of training programs, driving toward an optimal time to licensing.”
As global air travel continues to increase and airspace complexity grows, air traffic controllers face increasing demands and challenges. Before advancing to high-fidelity simulators and on-the-job training, they must develop strong mental models of airports, airspace structures, and traffic flows. While advanced training tools for three-dimensional visualisation and mission simulation are regular aspects of pilot and mission crew training, similar solutions for air traffic controllers have been limited.
CAE Ridge™ bridges this gap, turning traditional tabletop or more limited computer display training into interactive 3D environments that help instructors and new trainees, as well as qualified controllers, visualise operations, explore scenarios, and rehearse procedures collaboratively.
“Our goal is to help ANSPs and training organizations adapt to a rapidly evolving operational landscape,” added Marie-Christine Cloutier, Vice President, Strategy, Business Performance & Marketing, CAE. “CAE Ridge™ exemplifies the potential of dual-use technologies, and demonstrates how we can combine decades of simulation expertise and immersive synthetic environments to deliver scalable, commercially accessible tools that empower both instructors and learners.”
Beyond foundational training, CAE Ridge™ supports pre-simulator preparation, debriefs, procedure rehearsals, initial learning for transferring qualified controllers, Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) scenario development, and operational reviews. Whether in a classroom, remote sessions, or briefings, CAE Ridge™ enables organisations to train effectively, respond to change with greater agility, and maintain high standards of safety and performance.
