As the COVID-19 pandemic turned the aviation industry on its ear, the folks at Redbird Flight Simulations began fielding phone calls from customers worried that flight training would come to a grinding halt. Josh Harnagel, Redbird’s vice president of marketing told Flying his team, including the company’s vice president of software development, began wondering if there was a way to conduct simulator training remotely. Redbird began cranking away on the problem in March and by April had a few ideas of how such a system might work. Last week Redbird Connect debuted as an effective, no-cost platform for flight instructors and their students to train using flight simulation and video conferencing technology using a web-based version of Redbird’s flight simulator operating system, Redbird Navigator.
Redbird Connect Enables Virtual Pilot Proficiency Center
Key Takeaways:
- Redbird Flight Simulations launched "Redbird Connect," a free platform that enables remote flight simulator training for instructors and students.
- Developed rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this web-based system allows instructors to control simulator variables (e.g., weather, failures, aircraft position) while monitoring students via live video.
- The technology will be prominently featured at the virtual AirVenture's Pilot Proficiency Center, offering pilots remote IFR and VFR training scenarios with volunteer CFIs.
- To participate, students need a newer-generation Redbird ATD running the latest software and an HD camera for video conferencing with instructors.
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