Challenge

Solution

The U.S. Air Force has recently undertaken the Pilot Training Next (PTN) initiative as a way to to address the current pilot shortage of roughly 2,000 pilots, especially fighter pilots. It was identified that part of the solution is to streamline the training pipeline through the use of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and advanced biometrics.

One of the key challenges to qualifying pilots is training to handle Emergency Procedures (EP) that might take place on the ground or in flight. Limited availability of flight simulators prevents pilots from effectively training on emergency procedures forcing training to be done as a "stand up" exercise where student pilots are required to use their imagination to put themselves in an emergency situation.

HTX Labs was charged by the Air Force with developing a fully-immersive virtual reality simulation to enable pilots to experience a ground or in-flight emergency to train and demonstrate their ability to efficiently and accurately work through an emergency situation. With the use of the HTX EP Training simulation, instructor pilots are able to place a student pilot in a realistic emergency, such as an engine fire or avionics malfunction, and require the student pilot to work through the appropriate activities and communications tasks to resolve the emergency and prevent damage to equipment, and personal injury or loss of life. Student pilots are now able to access the EP simulation at any time using their VR system issued to them as part of the PTN program.