The only thing considered more important than saving money in the aviation industry is aviation safety. A recent report by the Aviation Safety network showed that in 2019, a total of 20 fatal accidents involving commercial aircraft resulted in 282 fatalities. Despite the high profile accident in Ethiopia of March last year – resulting in 157 fatalities, 2019 was still one of the safest years on record for commercial aviation.
So, what’s changed? Safety, training, operating costs and coordination all go hand in hand when it comes to optimising efficiencies in the aviation industry. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are rapidly becoming game changes within the industry. In fact, Business Wire predicts that the market for AR and VR applications in aviation will grow from $78 million in 2019 to $1.37 trillion by 2025.
How VR and AR can improve Aviation safety training
VR is the technology to beat when it comes to immersing ourselves in a world that we can manipulate whilst eliminating the risks that we may face in a dangerous real-world situation. Today, virtual reality has moved far beyond a mere gaming trend and has been embraced by high-risk industries like manufacturing, aviation, healthcare and emergency services.
The CES 2020 convention showed us that a number of brands are already utilising the technology in the automobile industry. Consider Honda’s VR driving simulator, Audi’s use of AR to develop the smart car that lets you flag up points of interest or Hyundai’s flying taxi. There’s clearly scope for AR and VR to be applied to road travel – so what’s on the cards for aviation?
Traditionally, the job of a pilot which demands high skills and confidence could have only been learnt in the air. AR and VR have revolutionised this training process.
Vantage Airport Group teamed up with Circuit Stream to understand the capabilities of VR training to improve safety. They implemented interactive VR training to reduce training time, increase knowledge retention and improve safety standards – all the while, mitigating millions of dollars of risk. The solution was an interactive and immersive airside driving simulator using the Oculus Rift to allow trainees to recreate reality and navigate difficult scenarios.
Designing and building commercial aircraft for long haul, high-speed flights across the globe have been an undeniable engineering feat. However, the smallest error in design or build can have life-threatening consequences.
Engineering and product design using AR and VR
Historically, aviation engineers didn’t get much practice learning on complex structures like jet engines and turboprops. Sourcing real parts of an aircraft to use for training can be timely and incredibly costly. Most trainees only get the chance to get their hands-on an aircraft when it comes in for repairs. And since aircraft technology becomes more reliable- opportunities for trainee engineers become rare.
VR bridges the gap between trainee engineers and their physical training with aircraft. Japan Airlines developed a VR training trial to find out if an immersive learning environment could enhance the skills of their aviation mechanics. The technology-enabled them to get acquainted with the engine in a realistic environment. It improved knowledge retention since experienced mechanics could identify their weak points.
Early feedback from the application of VR in aviation safety training suggests that the technology is a viable learning tool that improves efficiencies and proficiency in aviation maintenance. VR, in this use case, directly and cost-effectively leads to more confident, competent engineers; and resultantly safer and more reliable aircraft.
In-Air applications of AR for pilots
According to Boeing, almost half of all fatal accidents happen during a plane’s takeoff or landing. Augmented reality technology can reduce the risks by enhancing the pilots’ ability to access details like terrain, navigation, traffic and weather. AR can also superimpose safety information like emergency checklists.
Aero Glass uses self-contained smart glasses to generate an AR view of the horizon for pilots. The intuitive format and 360-degree display enable pilots to visualise airspace information without the need to use multiple screens and instruments. This project has been recognised by Boeing Horizon X and Airbus BizLabs- the launch is yet to be finalised.
How AR and VR can improve customer experience
In-flight entertainment is a key differentiating factor between airlines, particularly on long-haul flights. The applications for AR and VR here are quite immense. Many airlines are beginning to use these technologies to improve the customer experience in the air.
VR headsets are being offered to passengers of Air France, Joon and Japan Airlines- who partnered with SkyLights, Dreamworks and 20thCentury Fox to develop a high-definition screen and diopter correction to automatically adjust to the user’s eyes.
VR also offers an escape for those who find air travel to be unbearable. Rather than struggle through a flight, they can immerse themselves within the VR world and have a more comfortable experience.
AR and VR Aviation in Action now and in the future
Both AR and VR have been applied to a range of different industries from gaming to healthcare, media, finance and entertainment. Its application in the aviation industry has been long overdue but there are quite a few companies that are already utilising the technology to improve efficiencies, reduce cost, boost safety and strengthen the customer experience.
Air New Zealand collaborated with IT service provider, Dimension Data, to beta-test the use of HoloLens for its cabin crew. They are attempting what’s never been done before. The airline envisions a future where flight crew wearing a HoloLens headset can display passenger information, such as flight times and details, time since last served and the emotional state of the passenger. It’s hoped that this technology will reinvent the experience of flying with Air Newzealand.
Certainly, both VR and AR are set to revolutionise the world of aviation. Their proven impact on training, safety and entertainment bode well for the industry. Will these technologies ever become a commercial flight requisite? If so, it opens up a whole new door for the AR/VR development market itself.
It cannot be denied that augmented and virtual reality is already making ground in the aviation industry. Aerospace companies and tech-developers must think strategically together about how they can further improve the supply chain to prepare for a future driven by technological innovation.
Importantly, airline companies can leverage AR and VR technologies to provide cost-effective operations and immersive training that will reduce risks on the runway.
