Virtual reality. Crowd-sourcing weather data. Co-pilots on the ground. Changes are coming to flight operations, maintenance and training. Executive Editor Jim Asker and Avionics and Safety Editor John Croft discuss the next-generation hardware and new techniques that will boost safety and save money.

Broadband connectivity to and from the cockpit will unlock the door to weather situational awareness across the air traffic network.

In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to fly anywhere over the planet in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast environment affording benefits equally to flight crews, operators and air traffic controllers.

Manage the background processes and optimize the data flow.

Delivering a staggering 1 terabits per second of throughput, ViaSat-3 will also comprise the first spacecraft in a three-satellite constellation designed to provide global broadband from geostationary orbit, feeding mobile demand from the U.S. government and commercial aeronautical markets.

MRO providers and OEMs are preparing to use data streaming from new aircraft and components to improve predictive maintenance, reducing failures and service disruptions for airline customers.

New connectivity software could help with everything from pilot flight planning to flight crew inventory control.