Taking Aviation To New Heights Thanks To Virtual Reality

The immersive and interactive nature of VR and AR-based devices enables a more comprehensive and realistic evaluation of candidates' aptitude for aviation. For example, it can help with cognitive abilities assessments, situational awareness evaluation, decision-making and crisis management skills, and hand-eye coordination and motor skills assessment.

VR can simulate different cockpit environments, allowing pilots-in-training to become familiar with the layout, instruments, controls, and systems of different aircraft types. They can practice cockpit procedures, switchology, and emergency scenarios in a realistic virtual environment, facilitating a smoother transition to actual flight training.

Virtual and Augmented Reality can complement traditional flight training by providing additional practice sessions and allowing pilots to refine their skills in specific areas. Virtual environments can be customized to replicate challenging scenarios, such as low-visibility landings, mountainous terrain, or congested airspace, enabling pilots to train in a more cost-effective and versatile manner. The scenarios can be customized to simulate different aircraft types, weather conditions, and airports, allowing pilots to train in diverse and challenging situations.

In simulated emergency scenarios, pilots practice critical decision-making and emergency procedures in a controlled and safe environment. This way, trainees experience realistic simulations of engine failures, system malfunctions, adverse weather conditions, and other challenging situations, improving their ability to respond effectively in real-world emergencies.

Air traffic controller trainees can practice managing air traffic, monitoring radar displays, communicating with pilots, and making decisions in high-pressure situations.

VR can support training to perfectly master visual contact with aircraft, proper communication gestures, and parking area rules.

VR and AR training can be utilized in aerospace manufacturing facilities to train workers in assembly processes, quality control, and equipment operation. By overlaying digital information onto physical workstations or providing interactive virtual simulations, trainees can learn complex manufacturing procedures more effectively and reduce errors.

Simulating space environments help astronauts train for space missions. From practicing extravehicular activities (EVAs) to operating spacecraft systems, astronauts can use this technology to familiarize themselves with the unique challenges of space exploration and refine their skills in a simulated space environment.