Air Force Funds Purdue-related Tech for Pilot Training

Three Purdue University alumni will soon help more members of the U.S. Air Force advance critical communication skills to keep them safe in the cockpit.

PlaneEnglish, a simulator created by the three Purdue alumni, has received a $1 million SBIR Phase II award, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and AFWERX, the Air Force’s technology and innovation hub. The technology addresses important communication and training needs for the Department of Defense.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to play an evenbigger part in helping the Air Force train pilots using a digital approachthat’s proven popular with users,” said Muharrem Mane, one of the creators ofthe simulator.

PlaneEnglish is an app-based aviation radio simulator tohelp new pilots acquire radio communication proficiency by developing advancedskills in more realistic environments.

Mane, an alumnus of the School of Aeronautics andAstronautics; Eren Hadimioglu, an alumnus of the School of Aviation andTransportation Technology; and Sam Dickson, an alumnus of the Department ofComputer Science, created and developed PlaneEnglish. The technology’ssimulator is used in dozens of airports across the United States, and the teamjust launched a version of the technology for civilian pilots.

PlaneEnglish lessons guide users through simple andcomplicated interactions with air traffic control on every phase of flight fromtaxi out, to takeoff, to airspace entrance, to approaches, to taxi in.

Mane also said the technology comes at a time when theFederal Aviation Administration has put an increased focus on English languageproficiency for pilots and started asking instructors to test their students ontheir speaking and communication abilities.