# The tech transition in Aviation
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-01-20
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Revolutionising Pilot Training in the Covid-era
Meta Description: Learn how e-learning and simulator training are transforming the aviation industry amidst the pandemic. Alpha Aviation Group is leading the way.
URL: https://financedigest.com/the-tech-transition-in-aviationhtml

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_By **Captain Nadhem,** the General Manager of Alpha Aviation UAE_

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered one of the most disruptive periods on record for air travel and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has estimated that airlines will lose at least $314 billion due to the outbreak.

As the industry looks to adapt to this new Covid-era, not only will airlines need to take a serious look at their overheads, but the standard of safety will need to remain the number one priority. With pilots and their training accounting for one of the biggest costs, airlines will need to re-think their [pilot training](https://www.financedigest.com/australia-to-investigate-reports-pilots-trained-chinese-military-minister.html "Australia to investigate reports pilots trained Chinese military – minister") strategy which is likely to include a need to outsource and decentralise to maximize efficiency.

This resultant strain highlights the need for [regulators to make changes](https://www.financedigest.com/german-regulator-stays-vigilant-as-meta-changes-vr-headset-rules.html "German regulator stays vigilant as Meta changes VR headset rules") to the training process. For example, there will [need to be more reliance on e-learning in the initial cadet training and the acceptance of integrated](https://www.financedigest.com/the-four-pillars-of-data-integrity-what-finance-businesses-need-to-know.html "The four pillars of data integrity: what finance businesses need to know") technology in simulator training will also be important.

The aviation [industry is undoubtedly equipped to make these changes](https://www.financedigest.com/rd-tax-important-exemptions-and-upcoming-changes-for-the-it-software-industry.html "R&D Tax: Important Exemptions and Upcoming Changes for the IT & Software Industry"), however, dynamism from the regulators will be essential. This is where embracing the tech transition can offer a vital [competitive advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-holds-the-key-for-both-competitive-advantage-and-risk-mitigation-in-2022.html "AI holds the key for both competitive advantage and risk mitigation in 2022").

**E-learning**

E-learning programmes can play a pivotal role in revolutionising the aviation [industry and Alpha Aviation Group is already working closely with both regulators and airlines to develop its potential in supporting future](https://www.financedigest.com/healthy-fat-free-snacks-market-2022-outlook-current-and-future-industry-landscape-analysis-2031.html "Healthy Fat-Free Snacks Market 2022 Outlook, Current and Future Industry Landscape Analysis 2031") pilot pools.

Among other benefits, the adoption of e-learning solutions has helped to ensure that cadet classes have [stayed on track and that they have been able to train and progress remotely](https://www.financedigest.com/remote-and-hybrid-work-are-here-to-stay-as-cyberattacks-escalate.html "Remote and Hybrid Work are Here to Stay as Cyberattacks Escalate"). With social distancing measures and restrictions on physical [travel set](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-europes-travel-disruption-set-to-continue-as-summer-ends.html "Factbox-Europe’s travel disruption set to continue as summer ends") to remain in place for the foreseeable future, pilot training facilities don’t know when they will be able to have all students back in the classroom to resume their syllabus. Therefore, it has been crucial to [adapt the training programmes in place to provide continuity](https://www.financedigest.com/scholz-if-germany-continues-to-adapt-we-will-make-it-through-winter.html "Scholz: if Germany continues to adapt, we will make it through winter") for the students and to ensure that when the pandemic starts to ease, there is a new cohort of cadets.

Undoubtedly, the current crisis has propelled forward this [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/whose-role-is-it-anyway-why-finance-underpins-data-led-digital-transformation.html "Whose role is it anyway? Why finance underpins data-led digital transformation"). However, already airlines have found that online programmes are proving equally beneficial to traditional training methods, with teaching sessions and remote testing running seamlessly.

The adoption of e-learning programmes has also enabled airlines to [expand cadet class sizes](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-light-bars-market-expanding-at-a-healthy-5-3-cagr-the-market-size-is-projected-to-total-us-1-3-bn-by-2029.html "Automotive Light Bars Market expanding at a healthy 5.3% CAGR, the market size is projected to total US$ 1.3 Bn by 2029"). No longer restricted by the physical capacity of training centres, e-learning programmes have the [potential to significantly open](https://www.financedigest.com/delivering-on-the-potential-of-open-finance.html "Delivering on the potential of open finance") up access to becoming an aviator. This is particularly important for supporting a [strong employee base and ensuring airlines can recruit](https://www.financedigest.com/aldi-uk-to-recruit-6000-after-strong-christmas-trading.html "Aldi UK to recruit 6,000 after strong Christmas trading") the best talent, irrespective of locality.

**Flight Simulators**

Despite the current circumstances, pilots still need to clock up over 1,500 flying hours to receive their ATP certificate. Therefore, [investing in simulator training facilities is now pivotal in supporting future](https://www.financedigest.com/ngunu-tiny-discusses-how-covid-19-has-changed-the-future-of-impact-investment.html "N’Gunu Tiny discusses how COVID-19 has changed the future of impact investment") pilot pools as airlines continue to restrict the number of flights.

This will also be crucial for existing pilots who have been put on furlough or made redundant. Despite not being able to fly, they still need to be clocking up hours in the cockpit and completing the relevant annual assessments in [order to keep](https://www.financedigest.com/keep-your-head-in-the-cloud-improving-the-order-to-cash-process.html "Keep your head in the cloud: improving the order-to-cash process") their licenses valid. By [adapting to a simulator model](https://www.financedigest.com/insurers-must-reimagine-traditional-risk-models-to-adapt-to-climate-change.html "Insurers Must Reimagine Traditional Risk Models to Adapt to Climate Change "), pilots will be able to keep on top of the legal requirements and be ready to return to the sky as soon as the opportunity arises.

Unlike conventional classrooms, simulators can also help deliver effective e-learning solutions that cater to customised needs. For example, simulator training enables pilots to practice any inflight scenario, whilst also reducing the actual number of flying hours required.

**[Artificial Intelligence](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-in-cyber-security.html "The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security") (AI)**

AI technologies have already been widely adopted [across the aviation industry](https://www.financedigest.com/flooded-battery-to-remain-top-choice-across-industries-accounting-for-49-0-of-lead-acid-battery-sales-in-2021-future-market-insights.html "Flooded Battery to Remain Top Choice across Industries, Accounting for 49.0% of Lead Acid Battery Sales in 2021: Future Market Insights"). From [facial recognition at airport passport](https://www.financedigest.com/how-ai-looks-set-to-power-facial-recognition-passport-adoption-across-southeast-asia-post-covid.html "How AI looks set to power facial recognition passport adoption across Southeast Asia post-COVID") security to baggage check-in and remote aircraft monitoring, for years these innovations have been streamlining processes, both for operators and customers. However, AI has a much greater potential beyond these applications, particularly when combined with flight simulators.

![Captain Nadhem](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/capt-1736838634756-compressed.jpg)

Captain Nadhem

AI and [machine learning](https://www.financedigest.com/machine-learning-engineer-jobs.html "Machine learning engineer jobs") algorithms excel at recognising patterns and are extremely efficient at collating data from the process of training cadets. As most flight simulators are already [equipped with sensors that generate considerable amounts of data](https://www.financedigest.com/crowdsourcing-of-data-to-drive-the-patient-handling-equipments-market.html "Crowdsourcing of data to drive the Patient Handling Equipments Market"), this resource can now be used to assess pilot competency from the onset of training.

[Powerful AI and machine learning systems](https://www.financedigest.com/telecom-tower-power-system-market-is-expected-to-reach-us6-7-bn-by-2031.html "Telecom Tower Power System Market is expected to reach US.7 Bn by 2031.") can analyse hundreds of flight parameters and sort through thousands of hours of simulator data to produce findings that a human coach wouldn’t have been able to determine. For example, AI programmes can evaluate a pilot’s ability as they execute key manoeuvres and create a comprehensive assessment of a cadet’s strengths and weaknesses based on [real-time data](https://www.financedigest.com/how-real-time-data-innovation-is-driving-up-customer-experience-in-fintech.html "How real-time data innovation is driving up customer experience in fintech").

The data collected from these training sessions can also be analysed by AI programmes to evaluate how the cadets fly certain training routes, for example, taking into account their angle of descent and acceleration periods. From this, airlines can gather enough [data to build](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-services-can-secure-data-and-build-trust-in-todays-modern-environment.html "How financial services can secure data and build trust in today’s modern environment") a picture of each pilots unique flying style and determine the optimum routes for them to fly.

A crucial [part of this assessment centres around](https://www.financedigest.com/ford-to-invest-around-300-million-to-build-electric-car-parts-at-uk-plant.html "Ford to invest around 0 million to build electric car parts at UK plant") the rate each pilot burns fuel. Real-time decisions about the throttle settings during take-off and the climb can have a significant impact on the amount of fuel burned during a flight. With airlines spending around 33 percent of their [operational costs](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-pub-operator-wetherspoons-loss-narrows-despite-higher-costs.html "UK pub operator Wetherspoon’s loss narrows despite higher costs") on fuel, reducing the rate that fuel is burned can have a considerable effect on the finances of an airline.

Airlines can already use AI systems to collect flight data regarding route distance, altitudes and [aircraft weight to determine the amount of fuel needed for a flight](https://www.financedigest.com/sas-cancels-1700-flights-due-to-pilot-strike-late-aircraft-deliveries.html "SAS cancels 1,700 flights due to pilot strike, late aircraft deliveries"). However, now the data collected from simulators can also be used to pair pilots to specific routes, based on optimum fuel usage. This will result in [cost savings](https://www.financedigest.com/untapped-cost-savings-why-smart-building-management-systems-are-a-finance-department-priority.html "Untapped Cost Savings: Why Smart Building Management Systems are a Finance Department Priority") for the airline by optimising the potential of their pilot crew to reduce excess overheads.

**Looking ahead**

Whilst 2020 has left the [travel industry](https://www.financedigest.com/virtual-cards-in-the-travel-industry.html "Virtual cards in the travel industry") in dire straits, Alpha Aviation believe that it has significantly accelerated the tech transition – achieving in 8 months what could have taken over 15 years.

Now, with airlines even more concerned about reducing overheads, [key industry players](https://www.financedigest.com/glazes-market-overview-key-players-industry-overview-trends-size-application-and-analysis-till-2022-2029.html "Glazes Market Overview: Key Players, Industry Overview, Trends, Size, Application and Analysis till 2022-2029") will need to adapt and innovate in order to find better ways to optimise resources and out last the pandemic.

Data is undoubtedly the key to revolutionising the future of aviation and, as the sector re-builds, the importance of investing in AI and machine learning along with the adoption of e-learning and simulator training will only [gain momentum](https://www.financedigest.com/bone-densitometers-market-to-gain-momentum-owing-to-increasing-cases-of-bone-disorders-especially-among-geriatric-population.html "Bone Densitometers Market To Gain Momentum Owing To Increasing Cases Of Bone Disorders Especially Among Geriatric Population").


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