In close cooperation with Apple and Darmstadt-based 3spin Learning, Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) is taking crew’s soft skills training to a new dimension with the help of Apple's Vision Pro.

Virtual Reality (VR) has played a significant role in LAT's training routine for several years. Currently, 20,000 training sessions are conducted annually at two VR hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, contributing to higher training efficiency and cost savings. The merging of the virtual world and reality has been limited, but Apple's Vision Pro opens up new possibilities based on the available technology, says LAT.

The entities believe this to be the world's first application in the field of aviation training: a de-escalation training specifically for Vision Pro. This scenario is particularly suitable because it allows for the simulation of varying, situational passenger behavior using Artificial Intelligence (AI) while considering the reactions of the crews. Prior to the official launch in the US in early February, Apple granted the opportunity to extensively test the designed software.

The training utilizes the features of Apple’s Vision Pro in spatial computing to depict realistic situations in an overlay of virtual cabin environment and the real world in the training center. By integrating AI algorithms, the learning content is highly individualized and tailored to the needs of the trainees and thus enables effective and efficient training, believes LAT.

Trainees receive real-time feedback from instructors, who also get the ability to adjust situations and passenger behavior. The ultimate goal, says LAT, is to individually promote the required competencies of the crews. No two trainings are alike.

"We are excited about the new possibilities that Apple's Vision Pro offers. LAT aims to actively unlock the potential of this advanced technology for aviation training." (Gilad Scherpf, Senior Director Aviation Training Development Lufthansa Group)

"The combination of AI and Spatial Computing heralds a paradigm shift for soft skills training,” said Thomas Hoger, Co-Founder, 3spin Learning. “As such courses no longer need to be laboriously programmed using our authoring tool, I look forward to a rapid spread of this learning method."

The continued collaboration aims to validate, further optimize, and integrate the concept into existing training concepts. In addition to the initial use case, additional scenarios can be developed and implemented based on customer needs in the short term.