EAA to Launch Virtual Flight Academy at AirVenture 2018

July 19, 2018 - EAA will launch its new EAA Virtual Flight Academy, an industry-first member benefit, at the Innovation Showcase during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 to help members build pilot proficiency and skills.

The EAA Virtual Flight Academy is powered by TakeFlight Interactive of Seattle, Washington. TakeFlight combined innovations in artificial intelligence, game-based learning, and data analytics to create a new capability — a virtual flight instructor. This virtual instructor guides the user through maneuvers in the simulator, just like a flight instructor would in a real airplane. This technology will change the way we learn to fly and become proficient pilots.

“Whether it’s your first flight, or your 500th, EAA understands what it takes to maximize your safe enjoyment in the cockpit and build proficiency at home,” said Dave Chaimson, EAA vice president of marketing and business development. “We first met TakeFlight through the AeroInnovate accelerator program at Oshkosh and it quickly became clear that TakeFlight’s technology platform could help fuel our Flight Plan and Pilot Proficiency initiatives.”

“We are thrilled to roll-out EAA Virtual Flight Academy this year at AirVenture, the world’s greatest general aviation gathering,” said Brandon Seltz, founder and CEO of TakeFlight Interactive. “I’ve had the aviation bug since I was young. I was working as a lead designer on the Microsoft Flight Simulator development team around the time I started taking flight lessons. I immediately discovered that I already knew how to fly! I soon saw the opportunity to create a new technology, our virtual flight instructor, to make your time in simulators far more effective. It’s not intended to replace a real flight instructor, but to help make your experience of learning to fly, or improving your proficiency, much more efficient and fun.”

The EAA Virtual Flight Academy, which is designed for and requires Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, will be released in stages comprised of multiple maneuvers, each containing a lesson and evaluation scenario. Each scenario is based on the FAA’s airman certification standards (ACS). The virtual flight instructor provides instruction and real-time feedback, as well as scoring of the pilot’s performance against FAA ACS standards.

On July 21, EAA will launch a resource center on its website at www.EAA.org/VFA where members can:

• View a recording of a virtual flight lesson.
• Download Stage One: Fundamentals of Flight (Aviore or Standard Edition) for free (a $29.95 value).
• View software and hardware requirements.
• Obtain a discount of 10 percent off list price on additional TakeFlight Interactive modules for EAA’s Virtual Flight Academy.
• Obtain a discount of up to 15 percent off simulator controls from Thrustmaster.

The EAA Virtual Flight Academy is a tremendous addition to EAA’s other notable proficiency efforts in recent years, including the Pilot Proficiency Center at AirVenture. EAA has leveraged programs such as Young Eagles, Eagle Flights, the EAA Sport Pilot Academy, Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, flight training scholarships, and the unparalleled gathering of pilots and training that is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, to help people learn to fly and become more proficient.

Attendees at AirVenture 2018 are invited to check out the EAA Virtual Flight Academy at the Innovation Showcase at Aviation Gateway Park. There will be three world-class, at-home flight simulator stations, sponsored by Thrustmaster and Volair, to give you a truly immersive virtual flight training experience!