VR in the Air Force

Air Education and Training Command (AETC) has begun a partnership with multiple major commands (MAJCOMs) of the US Air Force to integrate virtual reality technology into aircraft maintenance training, as part of the organization's larger force development mission. The so-called Technology Platform initiative aims to build virtual training hangars to "enable training anywhere and any time." The hangars will be programmed with three-dimensional design series environments for all airframes in the AETC's inventory--meaning they can be used for all aircraft used by the Air Force.

The goal of this initiative is to develop a learning environment that utilizes a combination of virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Air Mobility Command was the first MAJCOM with which AETC collaborated; the Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and the Air Force Special Operations Command soon followed suit, and more will join as the initiative gathers steam.