TRU Simulation Delivers the Next Evolution in Flight Training with Varjo
Designed to meet the highest-level FAA and EASA FTD qualifications, TRU Simulation’s VERIS™ VR simulator is set to transform pilot training by reducing costs, enhancing safety, and providing officially recognized training in a controlled environment.
TRU Simulation specializes in high-fidelity flight simulation technologies for both civil and military aviation. Their simulators enable pilots to train in ultra-realistic, controlled environments that range from classroom training tools to flight training devices and full-motion simulators. Whether preparing for routine flight operations or responding to critical, high-stakes scenarios, TRU’s simulators ensure that pilots are ready for any challenge.
Benefits of VR/XR Flight Training Solutions:
- Cost Savings: VR/XR solutions reduce training costs by more than 50% compared to traditional simulators. This is due to the elimination of the need for large, complex visual systems and the associated infrastructure.
- Space Efficiency: VR/XR simulators require up to 80% less space than traditional simulators, making it easier to install in various locations and increasing accessibility for flight training programs.
- True-to-Life Immersion: High-resolution displays and wide field of view create an unmatched level of detail and realism, allowing pilots to train with precise visual and tactile feedback.
- Comprehensive Training: Pilots can engage in a wide array of training scenarios, from standard operations to emergency procedures, with realistic interactions and dynamic motion feedback that simulate real flight conditions.
Transforming the Landscape of Flight Simulators
Traditional dome-based flight simulators have long been a staple in pilot training. They rely on large, expensive visual systems to provide the necessary field of view and depth perception essential for effective learning. Their large, curved displays require vast physical space to accommodate a big enough radius, and the advanced projection technology driving them often incurs substantial costs.
For training providers, this combination of high cost and space requirements can become a limiting factor due to the solutions’ restricted accessibility and scalability. Recognizing these constraints, TRU Simulation identified the need for an innovative solution that could maintain the high standards of training quality while reducing these physical and financial constraints. They set out to deliver an immersive training experience that was not only more flexible and efficient but also more accessible to a broader range of operators and pilots.
“By integrating VR, we tackle these challenges directly,” said Rafael A. Longo, director of engineering at TRU Simulation. “VR allows us to deliver a better immersive experience at a lower cost and with a much smaller footprint, making high-quality flight training more accessible and flexible.”
“VR allows us to deliver a better immersive experience at a lower cost and with a much smaller footprint, making high-quality flight training more accessible and flexible.”
Rafael A. Longo - Director of Engineering, TRU Simulation
Blending Hardware Precision with Virtual Flexibility
Building on their legacy of innovation and commitment to redefining what’s possible in aviation training, TRU Simulation is now ushering in the next generation of flight simulation with their VERIS™ Virtual Reality flight simulator. Designed to meet the highest-level FAA and EASA qualifications for flight training devices, the simulator delivers highest level performance and immersion with a lower price point than traditional solutions.
Integrated with the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition headset, TRU Simulation created an advanced training platform that combines a physical cockpit with a virtual overlay. The synchronized virtual and physical cockpits allow students to interact naturally with the cockpit instruments, experiencing both the feel of real-world hardware and the flexibility of a virtual environment. The simulator also incorporates a motion platform that precisely replicates real flight dynamics. This gives pilots a realistic sense of aircraft movement and dynamics.
“This setup enables pilots to interact with the cockpit, providing an extremely real experience where they can focus on training rather than the technology,” Longo said.
A World of Training Possibilities
The VR simulator’s physical cockpit structure and virtual components together provide pilots with an authentic feel and seamless flying experience for any training scenario. Pilots can practice routine operations as well as create unique scenes to address any number of scenarios, including off-airport landing, search and rescue operations and emergency medical services.
With access to a comprehensive modelled airport database, pilots can choose from virtually any airfield in the world, tailoring their training to meet specific goals. The solution’s Instructor Operating Station (IOS) provides features that enable the instructor to effectively manage the simulator and monitor what the pilot sees in the virtual world.
Precision in Every Pixel
The Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition, paired with TRU Simulation's™ Image Generator Powered by Unreal Engine®, delivers a powerful combination for visual fidelity and for displaying highly detailed aircraft instruments, environments and landscapes. The precision and clarity of the visuals extend to every switch, knob, lever, and instrument panel and provides pilots with an authentic replication of cockpit interfaces.
Dynamic lighting, complete with accurate shadows and reflections, enhances the training environment by mirroring real-world visual conditions. In addition, the software is capable of creating complex particle effects, such as smoke, fire and fluid simulations, adding to the realism of the atmosphere.
With Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition’s high-resolution displays and expansive field of view, pilots can effortlessly read fine details on instrument panels, interpret data with clarity, and experience true spatial depth, creating an immersive environment where their focus is on the task at hand rather than the limitations of the technology.
“Varjo was the clear choice due to its superior visual quality, which is critical for aviation training. This clarity is essential for fostering an immersive training experience, where pilots can build real-world skills without leaving the simulator,” said Longo.
FAA and EASA Certification
TRU Simulation is in the process of obtaining FAA and EASA qualifications for the VERIS™ VR simulator. To achieve EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) certification, a flight training device must meet stringent regulatory requirements that ensure it provides a high-fidelity and reliable training experience for pilots.
This process involves rigorous testing and validation to confirm the device accurately replicates aircraft systems, flight dynamics, and operational environments. The device must also demonstrate the reliability of its hardware and software systems under repeated operational conditions and meet human factors standards to ensure usability and effectiveness for pilot training.
Once certified, these qualifications will position VERIS™ as an officially recognized training tool that can be integrated into training programs in the approved nations. As part of the official training curriculum, training conducted in virtual reality will count toward official flight hours for fulfilling pilot certification, currency, and recency requirements. This is an exciting development that will reduce the need for costly in-aircraft training while providing a safer and more controlled learning environment.
“VR and XR Simulators are reshaping the simulation industry by removing many of the traditional barriers to entry.”
Rafael A. Longo - Director of Engineering, TRU Simulation
Catering to the Future
TRU Simulation is constantly refining its systems and is staying ever mindful of changing and emerging technologies, ensuring that their solutions evolve alongside the demands of modern aviation. A key focus of their roadmap is expanding the VERIS™ system to accommodate a broader range of aircraft models, including larger jets and multi-crew operations.
TRU Simulation is also actively exploring extended reality technologies that would enable training environments that seamlessly blend real-world components with virtual elements. Having the option of incorporating physical elements into virtual simulations would broaden the scope of training options available to pilots.
“This will allow us to cater to a wider range of pilot training needs and continuously push the boundaries of what VR and XR technology can achieve in the aviation sector,” Longo says.
