AI in Action: Practical VR in Aviation Training

Virtual reality is no longer a future concept for aviation training. It is already being used by airlines to familiarise crews with new aircraft, reinforce procedures and improve confidence before trainees step into the simulator or onto the flight deck.

In the latest AI in Action Podcast, host Andy Fawkes is joined by Patrick Hejlesen, Chief Ground Instructor/Chief Technical Knowledge Instructor at Sunclass Airlines, who shared his experience at WATS 2026, Nicholas Bolton, Technical Lead – Immersive & Emerging Technologies at Qantas and a speaker at the upcoming APATS 2026 conference, and Conor Beardmore, Creative Director at Latitude 83 Aviation, to discuss how immersive technology is finding its place in airline training.

The discussion explores where VR delivers the greatest value today, including aircraft familiarisation, cabin crew training and procedural practice, while acknowledging that it is not a replacement for full-flight simulators or hands-on training.

The panel also examines the barriers to wider adoption, from regulation and hardware limitations to ensuring training remains focused on learning outcomes rather than technology for its own sake. Speakers argue that successful implementation depends on close collaboration between airlines, technology providers and regulators.

Looking ahead, the conversation considers how artificial intelligence, data-driven feedback and increasingly realistic immersive environments could make VR an even more effective training tool. The message from all three speakers is that the technology has matured significantly, and the industry's focus should now shift from proving VR's potential to implementing it where it delivers measurable training benefits.