The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified a mixed reality (MR) headset for civil aviation training for the first time — potentially signalling a shift in how pilots are taught. 

Built by Finnish startup Varjo, the headset — called XR-4 — replaces the screens in a flight training cockpit, which are smaller, cheaper versions of the full-flight simulators used in the final phases of pilot training. 

The MR tech blends digital environments with the physical cockpit and the pilot’s real hands and body. Using a process known as “masking,” everything outside the cockpit is digitally rendered, while the trainee interacts with physical controls. 

That hybrid setup is designed to allow pilots to feel as though they are really flying. It also includes eye-tracking features that let instructors see where trainees are looking. This can help teachers observe how their students react during high-stress scenarios such as low-visibility landings or engine failures.

Varjo’s device has been integrated into Swiss simulation device manufacturer Brunner Elektronik’s new flight trainer, which replicates the interior of a Diamond DA42 aircraft.  

EASA’s approval for the system gives it formal authorisation for logging civilian flight hours in Europe. Lufthansa’s flight academy in Munich is already using the tech to train its new recruits.

“This is much more than a one-off tech trial,” Tristan Cotter, Varjo’s global head of defence and aerospace, told TNW. “It marks the debut of the first qualified mixed reality simulator that we believe is on a clear path toward broader regulatory approvals.”

Founded in 2016, Varjo has raised over $200mn and is Europe’s best-funded XR scaleup. It has previously worked with military and industrial clients, but this marks its first system approved for civilian pilot training. 

While Cotter believes MR could disrupt the way pilots are trained, he acknowledges the tech’s current limitations. 

“Mixed reality isn’t positioned to replace full-flight simulators anytime soon,” he said. “But it has enormous potential to impact earlier phases of pilot education.”  

EASA’s approval comes amid growing efforts to integrate extended reality (XR) tools into regulated industries. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has trialled VR headsets to teach surgical students. Rolls-Royce has used MR for aircraft engine maintenance, while EDF Energy has deployed the tech to train its nuclear plant operators.

However, despite its promise, widespread industrial XR adoption has been slower than expected, according to a recent report by research and advisory firm Forrester.  

James McQuivey, principal analyst at Forrester, said “high costs and a lack of compelling use cases” were to blame for the sluggish adoption, and urged organisations to “measure their expectations.” 

Nevertheless, according to the report, training was one area where the technology has already demonstrated a clear return on investment.  

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