BAA Training starts virtual reality-based (VR) pilot training as it seeks to be on the leading edge of pilot education. It signed a contract with the VR technology provider – VRpilot – on 2 November 2021 at the European Airline Training Symposium 2021 in Berlin. VRpilot will supply a brand-new VRflow emergency procedure trainer to enhance pilot training at the academy and safeguard an even higher quality level.

From January 2022, the virtual reality-based solution will be embedded into Airbus A320 Type Rating and MCC training, available for corporate and individual clients. Later, it will also become part of Boeing 737NG and Boeing 737 MAX Type Rating programs and different courses. From the Ab Initio perspective, VR will serve as an additional tool for ground school and flight school students’ lectures and other training.

Aivaras Lukauskis, Product Manager at BAA Training, says: “BAA Training advocates new ideas and innovative solutions that offer a completely immersive, visual and sound-based experience and aims to teach its students to tackle real-life situations in the early stages of the training. VR technology provides a safe and flexible environment to learn and develop necessary skills needed to react quickly and handle even the most difficult scenarios. We have selected VRpilot as the equipment provider and will use VRflow, which offers multi-dimensional real-time simulation and an intuitive and transparent interface.”

Thor Paulli Andersen, founding partner and CTO for VRpilot: “VRpilot is grateful for this opportunity to work with BAA Training and to be part of their journey on future pilot training and to help increase flight safety through improved quality of pilot training.”

EASA confirms that adopting the latest technologies and applying other training devices than full flight simulators can bring tangible benefits for pilot training. Therefore, it is pursuing the modernization of its regulation and is moving towards officially approving VR as a suitable concept for professional pilot training purposes.