Aspyr Media’s brilliant Microsoft Flight Simulator is no longer just a video game. The gorgeous plane game has seen players chase real-life storms in a virtual world and learn how to navigate real-world locations via VFR, but now the software will be used to train actual pilots.
In a press release by Boeing, it was confirmed that Microsoft Flight Simulator is the core of the company’s new training software that aims to “reduce simulator familiarisation time” for new pilots. While not the exact same software as the commercially available video game, the software is a more real-life focused version of Microsoft’s popular video game.
The new software is dubbed the Virtual Airplane Procedures Trainer and is “powered by Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Flight Simulator”. Boeing says that the software is “designed to empower pilots and flight training teams with immersive, accessible and customisable tools that elevate pilot learning and readiness”.
The press release details the following two modes available for the simulator software:
- High-fidelity simulations: Pilots experience 3D simulations in light-weight devices to help standardize training, reduce simulator familiarization time and improve readiness before working with flight training devices.
- Intuitive authoring tool: Training operators manage content through an intuitive, configurable self-service authoring tool that lets them author, customize and distribute training lessons across their training programs. With the authoring tool, airlines can launch or change procedures instantly to their pilot pool.
Boeing’s use of the Microsoft Flight Simulator engine for its software appears to be part of a long-term partnership. In the press release, Microsoft corporate vice president of manufacturing and mobility Dayan Rodriguez announced that “Microsoft is committed to accelerating learning while optimising confidence for pilots with safety at the core. Partnering with Boeing, we are advancing the future of flight by empowering the people at the heart of it.”
Boeing has shown off more of the Virtual Airplane Procedures Trainer on its official website following the summit last week. The draw of the software is accessibility with users able to “practice on an iPad, laptop, or desktop with offline lessons” that sync their process.
Right now, the software is focused on training students to use the Boeing 737MAX with a full list of operational procedures, but lessons for the 737NG, 787, and 777X are coming soon.
