Photo By Edzel Butac | Maj. Gen. Jeffrey T. Pennington, commander of Fourth Air Force at March Air Reserve...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges to many, and the U.S. Air Force was not immune to these trials. The 446th Operations Group had to adjust, like all units, to fill potential training gaps caused by restrictions due to the pandemic. Pilots and loadmasters were specifically hard-hit in their training due to the pandemic - enter virtual reality (VR) technology.
The Oculus Quest 2, which is a standalone VR headset, is set to augment C-17 Globemaster III aircrew training here at the 446th Operations Group.
“This immersive C-17 VR environment is a monumental leap forward compared to traditional ‘click through’ computer-based training,” said Lt. Col. Bruce Cohn, Program Integration Officer and C-17 Instructor Pilot, 446th Operations Group. “During the air refueling training the student feels as if they are sitting in their primary crew position, in-flight; while watching and listening to their instructor as he/she actually flies the plane. The flight deck training software is similarly captivating but also hands on and interactive.”
The 446th Operations Group commander, Col. Cynthia Welch, says this innovative training will prove valuable for aircrew.
“Our aircrew currently perform hands-on emergency and tactical training in a simulated environment. The addition of VR to this environment will create the most 3-dimensional (3D), real-world environment possible while allowing our Airmen to gain on-the-job experience in a risk-free environment,” said Welch. “This capability will allow our aviators to better practice their skills; whether those actions are recovering from a disabled aircraft, flying tactically to avoid threats as we perform our world-wide mobility mission, or just honing our day-to-day flying skills.”
Two companies have developed the C-17 training software that are being used by pilots and loadmasters, which includes air-refueling and flight deck simulation, according to Cohn.
“The tutorials were created from video captured on several actual flights,” said Cohn. “The person wearing the device receives both visual and audio instruction in real time as a C-17 instructor pilot conducts aerial refueling.”
The other piece of software being used simulates a fully functioning, 3D C-17 flight deck. It allows both pilots and loadmasters to practice checklist operations. The student uses the hand controls that accompany the headset to manipulate every switch and button on the flight deck.
“It’s remarkable how realistic the user experience actually is!” said Cohn.
Although VR technology is important in times of potential training gaps, the preferred training method remains actual simulation.
“These VR headsets won’t replace the flight simulator training, but they will be an excellent augmentation to it,” said Cohn. “The ability to accurately represent the aircraft and its systems with an inexpensive stand-alone device anywhere is quite impressive. A student will be able to use it whenever and wherever they wish. Equally as important, the VR devices will save time in the simulator, which is both limited and expensive.”
Cohn added that even though VR is new to the C-17 community, it is a well-established instructional aide that is being used at all of the Air Force Joint-Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT) bases. He expects that VR technology will encompass more and more of the instructional sphere as the software is built out and matures.
The 446th Operations Group plans to provide these devices to its squadrons in the near future.
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2022 20:15 |
| Story ID: | 416916 |
| Location: | TACOMA, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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