| Summary: | The use of simulators is widely used for preparing someone, be it a person or organization, for an upcoming task. There are several reasons for this. Many endeavours are costly, and the gain from a real life experience might not justify its costs. Another reason might be that the task involves hazardous elements, with potential to harm people or the environment. There is also the possibility that the experience sought occurs so infrequently, that one is unlikely to experience it under real conditions. In all of these situations, a simulated training experience can be equally good, or even better, compared to real on-the-job training. This paper gives an account of a course in advanced arctic operations, where the simulator was used in preparation for operations in ice. The preparations and execution of the training itself are explained, accompanied by the views of the course instructors about the lessons learned. The result indicates that one of the key components of successful training is to avoid having too detailed exercises, and rather to focus on the fundamental principles of the upcoming activity. In combination with the important debriefing where more specific aspects of the operation can be discussed, a broad training leaves the participant well equipped to handle real life challenges as they appear in the field.
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