{"id":673675,"date":"2025-06-05T23:30:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/eu-approves-first-mixed-reality-flight-simulator-for-pilot-training\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T23:30:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:30:22","slug":"eu-approves-first-mixed-reality-flight-simulator-for-pilot-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/eu-approves-first-mixed-reality-flight-simulator-for-pilot-training\/","title":{"rendered":"EU approves first mixed reality flight simulator for pilot training"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified a mixed reality (MR) headset for civil aviation training for the first time \u2014 potentially signalling a shift in how pilots are taught.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Built by Finnish startup Varjo, the headset \u2014 called XR-4 \u2014 replaces the screens in a flight training cockpit, which are smaller, cheaper versions of the full-flight simulators used in the final phases of pilot training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The MR tech blends digital environments with the physical cockpit and the pilot\u2019s real hands and body. Using a process known as \u201cmasking,\u201d everything outside the cockpit is digitally rendered, while the trainee interacts with physical controls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
A mixed reality view from the pilot\u2019s perspective at night. Credit: Varjo<\/figcaption>\"\"<\/figure>\n

That hybrid setup is designed to allow pilots to feel as though they are really flying. It also includes eye-tracking features that let instructors see where trainees are looking. This can help teachers observe how their students react during high-stress scenarios such as low-visibility landings or engine failures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Varjo\u2019s device has been integrated into Swiss simulation device manufacturer Brunner Elektronik\u2019s new flight trainer, which replicates the interior of a Diamond DA42 aircraft.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Sandro Gianella, Head of EMEA Policy & Partnerships, on stage at TNW Conference 2025<\/p>\n

Hear from top voices on how the continent can lead \u2014 not just follow \u2014 in the next wave of AI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

EASA\u2019s app<\/a>roval for the system gives it formal authorisation for logging civilian flight hours in Europe. Lufthansa\u2019s flight academy in Munich is already using the tech to train its new recruits.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is much more than a one-off tech trial,\u201d Tristan Cotter, Varjo\u2019s global head of defence and aerospace, told TNW. \u201cIt marks the debut of the first qualified mixed reality simulator that we believe is on a clear path toward broader regulatory approvals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Founded in 2016, Varjo has raised over $200mn and is Europe\u2019s best-funded XR scaleup. It has previously worked with <\/span>military<\/span> and industrial clients, but this marks its first system approved for civilian pilot training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Cotter believes MR could disrupt the way pilots are trained, he acknowledges the tech\u2019s current limitations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMixed reality isn\u2019t positioned to replace full-flight simulators anytime soon,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it has enormous potential to impact earlier phases of pilot education.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EASA\u2019s approval comes amid growing efforts to integrate extended reality (XR) tools into regulated industries. The UK\u2019s National Health Service (NHS) has trialled VR headsets to teach surgical students. Rolls-Royce has used MR for aircraft engine maintenance, while EDF Energy has deployed the tech to train its nuclear plant operators.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, despite its promise, widespread industrial XR adoption has been slower than expected, according to a recent <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> by research and advisory firm Forrester. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

James McQuivey, principal analyst at Forrester, said \u201chigh <\/span>costs and a lack of compelling use cases\u201d were to blame for the sluggish adoption, and urged organisations to \u201cmeasure their expectations.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, according to the report, training was one area where the technology<\/a> has already demonstrated a clear return on investment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to discover the next big thing in tech? Then take a trip<\/a> to\u00a0TNW Conference<\/a>, where thousands of founders, investors, and corporate innovators will share their ideas. The event takes place on June 19\u201320 in Amsterdam and tickets\u00a0are on sale now<\/a>. Use the code TNWXMEDIA<\/a>2025 at the checkout to get 30% off.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified a mixed reality (MR) headset for civil aviation training for the first time \u2014 potentially signalling a shift in how pilots are taught.\u00a0 Built by Finnish startup Varjo, the headset \u2014 called XR-4 \u2014 replaces the screens in a flight training cockpit, which are smaller, cheaper…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":673676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280%2C640&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2025%2F06%2Fvarjo-mixed-reality-flight-simulator.jpg&signature=06a5bec3354c928eba88e6d1a114ffe5","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-673675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}