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K. Erick Fortin, CAE director of incubation, r, displayed the view as BCA tried out the company's training app for the Apple Vision Pro spatial computing device.
Training provider CAE expects to release a training app next spring that creates an immersive flight deck environment using the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.
Montreal-based CAE demonstrated the application for the Bombardier Global 7500 flight deck during the NBAA-BACE conference in October. In development since February, the application was at the alpha testing stage, with a planned spring 2025 release. CAE also plans to make the app available for other aircraft.
The Apple Vision Pro—Apple’s first spatial computer—uses eye tracking and hand gesture recognition to allow users to interact with digital content in a three-dimensional, virtual environment. CAE’s is one of the early apps developed for the wearable device, which Apple unveiled at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2023 and first made available in the U.S. in February, priced at $3,499.
By presenting its training content on the Apple device, CAE aims to “empower the learner” by enabling pilots to train or practice on a high-resolution, virtual flight deck from the comfort of their homes or hotel rooms. The capability will give pilots more flexibility and better prepare them for the transition from ground school to the simulator, enhancing training efficiency overall, the company says.
Once the Vision Pro headset is calibrated to the individual’s eyes, a user can scan the Collins Pro Line Fusion-based Vision flight deck of the Global 7500 and activate switches and controls by tapping the air or by touching the thumb and index finger together in a pinching motion.
The app features three interactive modes. In Exploration mode, a pilot can touch a specific control and view a description of its function; in Guided mode, the user is instructed in various procedures and guided to the next action required in a sequence; in Flight Deck Interaction mode, pilots can use the virtual flight deck to replicate a real-world task.
“This Apple Vision Pro app developed by CAE will allow pilots to familiarize themselves with the flight deck, practice critical procedures, and develop muscle memory for key functions from anywhere,” said Emmanuel Levitte, CAE chief technology and product officer.
“It will allow pilots to engage with realistic flight deck environments to further ensure they are ready for their full-flight simulator sessions and become even better prepared for any situation.”
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