The Future is Now

Nearly two decades ago I wrote a short scenario describing my vision of the future of flight training.  At the time, technology was far simpler that it is today.  The Internet was still a dream.  Desktop computers were mostly used as glorified typewriters.  Portable computers barely fit into the overhead compartment of an airliner. Mobile phones were the size of a brick and only made phone calls. Here it is without revision:

"The captain arrives in flight operations a little early, as is her habit. Entering the briefing room, she removes a small device from her flight case and flicks it on. Quickly, it displays today's schedule, crew composition, and weather. Driven by a software agent, the device notes from the captain's log that she has not flown in thunderstorms such as those expected today in a long while. The device advises the captain to don a pair of eyephones and launches a mini-lesson on wind shear recovery techniques, including a dynamic 3-D model of the wind flows around rapidly developing super cells and their effects on aircraft performance."

"It has also been almost a year since the pilot last flew the instrument approach expected at the second stop of the day. As a review, the device conducts a short simulation of the arrival at the airport, with the net-conferenced instructor placing particular emphasis on the high terrain underlying the arrival route."

"The agent also notes that the aircraft assigned for today's first leg has a history of unresolved generator trips. It offers a review of generator-out procedures, which the captain accepts. She spends five minutes simulating the cockpit flows for single and dual generator failures. Then, noticing the time on the display, the captain closes the device, returns it to her flight case, and walks to the lounge to brief her crew."

There are still a few aspects of this vision that would require development of new technologies - primarily 3D technology.  But as a trip to the local electronics store proves, these developments are no longer in the distant future. Now that the future has arrived, those of us who are dedicated to aviation training can push forward toward making this vision a reality.

Fly Safe!
Neil