Qatar Airways is the global launch partner of Rolls-Royce’s new Virtual Reality training tool. It is the first airline to trial the new technology as part of its engineering training plan.
The new tool is designed to provide engineers with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB refresher training in a virtual environment without the need for a physical engine to work on. Qatar Airways mechanics will be the first in the industry to experience this cutting-edge technology.
The Trent XWB, which powers the Qatar Airways A350 fleet, is Rolls-Royce’s largest engine and must be separated before it can be transported for maintenance and repair. Using HTC Vive equipment, engineers will be immersed in the process, using sight, sound and touch to separate the two parts of the engine in a virtual setting, without the complexity and cost of using a real engine.
“Qatar Airways is an airline of the future, and we constantly strive to deliver innovation in every area of our business,” says Qatar Airways Group chief executive, His Excellency Mr. Al Baker. “Our ultimate goal is to provide our customers with a quality on-board experience every time they travel, and by adopting the latest technology in our engineering department, we aim to ensure that they arrive at their destination smoothly and without disruption. We are very excited about the new Virtual Reality training tool offered by Rolls-Royce and we are proud that they have chosen Qatar Airways as their global launch partner.”
The Rolls-Royce Virtual Reality training platform trial follows Qatar Airways’ first venture into the world of Virtual Reality when it became IATA’s global launch partner of RampVR in August 2018. This system, pioneered by IATA, utilizes the virtual-reality technology to simulate real air-side conditions for ground handling and ground service operator training. The RampVR system is being used by Qatar Airway’s Talent Development department to train their ground operations teams.
“At Rolls-Royce we are designing, testing, and maintaining engines in the digital realm, so it makes sense that we bring cutting-edge technology to our training programs,” says Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce, president – Civil Aerospace. “In the same way pilots complete elements of their training in a simulator, certain engineering tasks can be taught through Virtual Reality. Qatar Airways was the first customer to take delivery of the Trent XWB, and their forward-thinking vision across their business makes them the perfect launch partner for this technology.”