The first time I tried to fly an Airbus H125 single-engine helicopter, I crashed somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Conditions were perfect for flying, but tilting the main rotor too quickly was clearly a mistake. Luckily, my flight took place in a VR flight simulation training device (FSTD) at Airbus’ new Customer Support Centre at Grand Central Airport in Midrand.

When you think of flight simulation, the first thing that comes to mind is Microsoft’s beloved flying franchise that first appeared on MS-DOS computers in 1982. To make the series more immersive, support for VR headsets was introduced in 2020. Being able to look around a cockpit in 360 degrees made it feel more real and exciting. To compete with Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS), Laminar Research released X-Plane in 1995. Built with pilots, the game fell short graphically, but was praised for its ability to teach Instrument Flight Rules, or IFR. When the weather turns, you have to rely on aircraft instruments and air traffic control for navigation, rather than visual references.