Wizz Air has received approval from Hungarian authorities to implement both the Mobile Airbus Training experience (MATe) suite and Virtual Procedure Trainer (VPT) technology for pilot training. It enables Wizz Air cadets to undertake part of their training without using a flight simulator or on-site procedure trainer. The software solution immerses trainees within a virtual cockpit and coaches them on Airbus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). With Virtual Reality, the VPT allows trainees to drill procedures repeatedly within a fully interactive cockpit, and also do a walk around the aircraft. Trainees can act intuitively on each switch and lever, following the correct sequence whilst building their muscle memory and procedural knowledge. The integration of both training solutions at Wizz Air’s training center in Budapest will support pilots undergoing recurrent and initial Type Training. The VR tool and the A320 Type Transition Course program (based on the use of MATe tool) have been approved by the Hungarian Civil Aviation Authority. It will enable Wizz Air to train pilots to the standards set by Wizz Air’s Approved Training Organisation (ATO).
Wizz Air opened its first training centre in Budapest in 2013 with an A320 Full Flight Simulator and classrooms. Since then, the airline has opened a new training centre in Budapest in 2018 and will open another in Rome this year. The training centres are equipped with three A320 Full Flight Simulators, A320 Fixed-base Simulators, Cabin Evacuation Trainers, and Fire Trainers. The virtual training solutions by Airbus are the latest additions to Wizz Air’s training centre in Budapest.
Wizz Air plans to train 4,000 flight deck crew and to welcome 300 new A321neo aircraft and the A321XLR aircraft by 2030. Those interested can apply here.
This is awesome! They will use this well known virtual reality in someting useful for the pilots.
ReplyDelete+1 especially when simulator slots are not vacant you can still do training. Good job for Airbus and Wizz.
DeleteNext step is to give it to passengers so they can pretend they are traveling. No one will complain they are late or that luggage is lost.
ReplyDelete😂😂😂
Deleteand have to pay for airport checking and complain about that haha
DeleteFor some reason this doesn't feel quite right to me.... I'm not involved in the airline industry whatsoever, except as a passenger. I hope they are not the 1st to implement this training
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth does it not sit right with you? It only makes flying safer because it is an added activity during training. So instead of a cadet waiting for his slot at the simulator doing nothing, he can actually use this VR technology until he gets to the simulator. And no, they are not the first, the Lufthansa Group is the first.
DeleteMy only worry is that this VR will eventually (down the road) result in reduction of actually IPT or even SIM times alloted for each candidate...
DeleteIt will happen, once new technology becomes reliable and effective. As always with new technology, since the time man invented a wheel.
Delete@anon 17:33 I can’t imagine this being the only training to fly a plane with 150+ travelers. You can’t get a driver’s licence without physically displaying your ability to drive a vehicle, so the VR will not replace the existing training until it is proven to be, if not better, then as effective as the current process. Extra training via a different means is always a good thing I believe.
DeleteYou misread my comment.. I am not saying it will replace the full sim training... It's too far from that stage, but I can see it reducing the real, hands on, training that you get from IPT and SIM sessions. Just my two cents...
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