Next-Gen Solutions for Smarter, Safer, and More Efficient Aerospace Systems
As Extended Reality (XR) technologies continue to mature, their adoption in the aerospace industry is accelerating. From enhancing cockpit displays to reshaping training and streamlining design, XR is becoming a practical solution for improving complex workflows and safety-critical operations in design and training.
As industries demand increasingly intelligent, adaptive, and immersive solutions, developing advanced Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) powered by XR is becoming a vital driver of operational transformation.
Human-Machine Interfaces Meet Immersive Tech
One of the latest examples of how modular XR-based systems can enhance existing avionics frameworks is the recent partnership between PACE Aerospace & IT (a TXT Group subsidiary) and FlySight.
This collaboration merges PACE’s VAPS XT – a tool for building dynamic, real-time HMIs – with FlySight’s OpenSight platform, a Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) tool built for mission data visualisation.
VAPS XT enables the creation of certifiable graphical user interfaces that are already widely used in cockpit displays, while OpenSight brings geospatial visualisation – the process of visually displaying data that has a geographic or spatial components, such as maps, graphs and 3D models – into the mix. This results in a single, powerful toolchain for mission planning, monitoring, and real-time data exploitation in mission-critical environments such as civil aviation and air traffic control.
This kind of HMI advancement is all about function. By integrating immersive, intuitive displays into environments where every second and decision counts, these tools help reduce cognitive load, boost awareness, and make critical data more actionable.
However, this is just one example in a growing trend where XR solutions are being integrated into the aerospace sector.
XR Training Solutions for the Next Generation
Training is another core area seeing tangible impact from XR technologies. Emirates Airlines launched the MIRA immersive learning platform to train over 23,000 cabin crew members. Through virtual reality simulations, trainees experience high-stakes scenarios such as in-flight emergencies and aircraft evacuations in a safe, repeatable environment.
This shift accelerates learning and reduces reliance on costly physical simulators and instructor-led sessions.
Similarly, Alaska Airlines announced their partnership with Loft Dynamics to build a full-motion Boeing 737 VR simulator. This hyper-realistic simulator uses XR to create more accessible, scalable pilot training. This is especially vital as the global demand for qualified pilots continues to rise.
Visualising Design and Customisation in Real Time
XR’s value extends far beyond the cockpit or classroom. Airbus, for example, has adopted mixed reality platforms to support aircraft cabin design and customisation.
Using remote collaboration tools and AR/MR headsets, customers, engineers, and technicians can visualise cabin layouts, receive contextual data in their field of view (FoV), and make real-time adjustments. This is very useful for improving safety within the workplace and also reducing production times.
Safety Through Simulation: Lessons from Industry
XR isn’t just improving efficiency; it’s helping to mitigate risk. At the IPLOM refinery in Italy, VR-based safety training has enabled operators to rehearse emergency protocols in high-fidelity scenarios without the risk of real-world drills.
This training uses Meta Quest headsets and Unreal Engine simulations to prepare staff for high-pressure scenarios through immersive XR.
Though industrial in focus, this example reflects a growing emphasis across high-risk sectors on simulation-led training to reduce on-site hazards. For aerospace companies managing complex environments and critical workflows, this trend has clear, transferable value.
XR at the Core of Aerospace Innovation
The partnership between PACE and FlightSight signals a broader movement towards smarter, more immersive, and risk-free mission systems across aerospace.
Whether through training the next generation of crew, reducing design bottlenecks, or making high-pressure decision-making more intuitive, XR is becoming a foundational technology for aerospace organisations aiming to reduce costs and future-proof their workflows.
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