VxR blends virtual reality with real-world scenarios, enabling pilots and crews to step inside a virtual cockpit that is fully representative of a live flying experience. The immersive environment harnesses real flight dynamics and the use of virtual reality goggles, giving pilots exceptional 3D perception and enabling them to sharpen their skills and decision-making under pressure.
Importantly, VxR brings the highest levels of simulation fidelity to the light helicopter segment, which to date has not enjoyed access to the most advanced flight training devices available to operators of larger helicopter types.
Safety first
Improving safety is at the heart of the VxR ethos, as Fabrizio Peano, VP of Simulation and Training Services, explains: “Our number one goal is safety. We know that historically there has been poorer availability of high-quality synthetic training for smaller types – typically light twin or single-engine helicopters below three tonnes in weight. Until now, operators have had little option but to base their training on live flying.
“VxR is a step change because it is completely immersive, but at the same time it’s a small device that’s easily reconfigured and does not have the same infrastructure requirements as a full flight simulator training device, for example. It’s also more flexible. Operators can come to our training facilities or conduct training using VxR at their own premises.”
Peano emphasises the importance of gaining certification from both EASA and the FAA: “It means that we can offer internationally recognised training credits across ab initio, recurrent and type rating training.”
Developed fully in-house
The fact that the VxR technology has been developed fully in-house means that Leonardo Helicopters has full control over source code design, customisation and future evolution of technology.
Starting in October 2022 with a blank sheet of paper, the first prototype was ‘flying’ within six months. “That’s pretty amazing, given that this is brand new technology that has never been fielded before,” says Peano. “We used a library of high-fidelity models for our helicopter types and combined this with the expertise if more than 100 instructor pilots to capitalise on their operational experience during development.”
AW119 leads the way
VxR is initially certified for the AW119, but work is already under way to extend this over the coming months to include both the AW109SP and the AW109 Trekker. The incremental development will also see additional mission capability built in so that pilots can simulate hoisting, cargo resupply and firefighting operations.
Two VxR devices are currently operational – one in the USA based at the company’s Training Academy in Philadelphia and a second in Italy at the A. Marchetti Training Academy in Sesto Calende.
What comes next?
How will virtual reality-based training continue to evolve? Peano says: “It’s an exciting area of technology and one that’s moving incredibly quickly. We will continue to invest to give our customers access to the most advanced training solutions.
“For example, we are already looking at how VxR could be applied beyond our light helicopter models to bring the same benefits across our product range. We’re investigating how Artificial Intelligence could be used to further strengthen the immersive aspects of VxR.”
Operational viewpoint: Mercy Flight Central
Mercy Flight Central operates a fleet of four AW119 helicopters providing a 24/7 air medical service supporting communities across New York State. Mercy Flight Central pilots have honed their skills with advanced flight instruction using VxR to simulate high-risk and complex emergency manoeuvres. Mercy Flight Central’s Chief Pilot Edward Smith spoke about the VxR experience: “It’s amazing. I can look 90 degrees, just like I would in the helicopter, and everything looks like I am in the helicopter.
“It makes for higher quality training as well as more realistic training for what we’re seeing inside the aircraft. This simulator is going to be huge in the future of our training programme. We have four aircraft for three bases, so with the realistic training we can get out of this and it being certified by the FAA, we’re able to fly along and fail an engine in this aircraft and pilots react to it. We’re able to fail different systems that we can’t do in an aircraft itself.
“It costs about 10% of what it does to operate an aircraft for an hour, so the cost-saving benefit for a small organisation like us, the fact that they put the research into it, they put the technology into it – I’ve seen some things in here that I never thought I’d see in a simulator.”