A pilot sitting in a cockpit wearing a Varjo XR-4 Series headset

XR flight Training for civil aviation

Increase training hours and throughput by integrating XR into your existing FSTD program, without expanding your simulator fleet.

Train any time, any place

The global pilot shortage demands faster, more scalable training

The civil aviation industry is facing a structural training challenge. With a projected shortfall of pilots and an increasing demand for new commercial pilots globally, Approved Training Organizations (ATOs) and airlines are under mounting pressure to increase throughput without proportional increases in cost or infrastructure.

Traditional full-flight simulators (FFS) and Flight Training Devices (FTDs) remain the gold standard for certified training, but they come with significant constraints: high capital and operating costs, large facility footprints, limited scheduling availability, and long lead times for new deployments.

Mixed reality based simulation can significantly augment and extend certified FFS or FTD infrastructure. By supplementing existing devices with high-fidelity headset-based training, ATOs can increase the number of available training hours, reduce bottlenecks on certified simulator time, and bring more trainees through the pipeline without proportional facility investment.

Quantified Findings on XR Flight Simulators

Faster Learning

30%

Time cut from achieving the first solo flight (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2022)

Portability

80%

Size and weight reduction from old systems (Fast Company & Loft Dynamics, 2024)

Reduced hours

15%

less in-air practise required among VR-trained students (Gouedy, Fendley & Wolf, 2024)

Highly rated

100%

of study pilots said they would recommend the VR simulator for training (Gouedy, Fendley & Wolf, 2024)

A Varjo XR-4 headset on top of a display panel

Enhance visual realism with XR

Extending the Capabilities of Your Existing Training Devices

Mixed reality allows flight training organizations to enhance existing Flight Training Devices with high-fidelity, 360-degree visuals, eliminating the immense cost and facility requirements of traditional projection domes and display systems while maintaining compatibility with full-motion platforms.

Used in FAA- and EASA-recognized devices, mixed reality helps organizations extend the value of their current simulators, increase training effectiveness, and prepare for future training requirements. When integrated with certified FSTDs, Varjo headsets help bridge the gap between procedural training and real-world operational performance by closely replicating how pilots see and interpret the flight environment.

XR is particularly well-suited to ab initio familiarization, cockpit procedure practice, and recurrent training flows, handling the high-repetition work that drives scheduling pressure on your FFS, so certified simulator time is reserved for the complex scenarios that demand it most.

Several pioneering solutions already certified by FAA & EASA for official training

Varjo-powered simulators are qualified or pre-qualified at multiple levels under both EASA and FAA, enabling XR-based training to be formally incorporated into ATO curricula alongside existing FFS and FTD programs. Logged XR hours count toward licensing requirements at qualified device levels.

Read how our customers and partners use the world's most advanced XR to modernize air training across the industry.

EASA and FAA certified flight simulators

Certified Performance

Varjo XR Technology Powers First-Ever EASA-Qualified Mixed Reality Flight Simulator by BRUNNER

Meet the first-ever mixed reality simulator formally recognized to log civilian flight hours in Europe.

Varjo’s technology powers Brunner Elektronik AG’s NOVASIM MR DA42, the first-of-its-kind mixed reality Flight Simulation Training Device qualified to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, marking a major milestone in the advancement and adoption of XR for civil aviation training.

READ PRESS RELEASE

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Certified performance

Varjo Headsets Selected as Part of First FAA Approved VR Flight Simulation Training Device

In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States Department of Transportation for the first time officially qualified a virtual reality-based solution for aviation training. Developed and built by Loft Dynamics, the simulator uses Varjo’s high-resolution virtual reality headsets to simulate a realistic training experience in an immersive environment.

Read the full story

Next evolution in flight training

Transforming the Landscape of Flight Simulators

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.

Read the case study

uncompromising visual fidelity

Designed for True-to-Life Immersion

The Varjo XR-4 Series brings unmatched realism to civil aviation training, with advanced video passthrough, dual 4K displays, and LiDAR sensors that align physical and virtual elements seamlessly. Trainees can interact naturally with cockpit instruments, physical controls, and crew members while eliminating negative training risks. Ergonomic design features, including a zero-gravity headband, automatic IPD adjustment, and active cooling, ensure long sessions remain comfortable and effective.

Varjo’s integrated eye tracking adds a powerful layer of insight to simulator training. Instructors can objectively review where trainees focused their attention during each phase of flight, assess scan patterns against best practices, and identify missed cues or delayed responses. Gaze data can also support after-action reviews with visual playback, reinforcing learning and improving retention.

Explore Varjo headsets

Ready to expand your training capacity?

Talk to our experts about adding XR to your training mix to increase available training hours, reduce bottlenecks on your FFS and FTD schedule, and move more pilots through your pipeline with certified, qualified technology.

“Students transitioned seamlessly from simulator training to actual flying and significantly outperformed expectations on their initial flights.” Lt. Col. Gregor Virant - Chief of Strategic Events and Policy at SAF