Virtual Reality’s Impact on Flight Training Continues to Grow

KLM Airlines and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are two entities using this new technology.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 07:41 AM ET

Verified

Jayla Thirtyacre, a senior in the Prescott Campus Cyber Intelligence and Security program, with math and computer science minors, tests the controls in Embry-Riddle’s virtual reality flight simulator. [Photo: David Thirtyacre/Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]

Key Takeaways:

Virtual reality (VR) is widely adopted in pilot training by major airlines like Air France-KLM and institutions such as Embry-Riddle, significantly enhancing training efficiency and reducing costs.
VR technology drastically shortens training times for critical procedures (e.g., reducing startup training from an hour to 15 minutes) and improves pilot preparedness, confidence, and communication skills through immersive scenarios and AI-powered simulations.
Beyond individual skill development, VR facilitates multi-crew training for complex situations like cabin fires and allows pilots to practice remotely, contributing to sustainability and reducing the need for physical aircraft access.
While regulatory approvals are ongoing and challenges such as data security and user comfort exist, VR is considered a crucial tool for making flight training more accessible and addressing the global pilot shortage.

See a mistake? Contact us.

VR is here to stay.

In December, I offered a window into how virtual reality was being implemented in flight training and suggested it could be an essential tool in lowering training costs for the next generation of pilots. I couldn’t anticipate the overwhelming interest that I’d receive from readers eager to learn more. It has only expanded my perspective on how critical this technology will be in training moving forward. Since then, two things have caught my attention that merit an update. In February, Chris Koomen, a virtual reality engineer and specialist at Air France–KLM Airlines Group, posted this viral walkaround video that his department produced. A pilot in training would be able to use the Oculus Quest 2 for business headset goggles and module for initial training on the 787.