Now, the airline is offering the same kind of top-notch experience for its employees. Using Microsoft HoloLens, Japan Airlines (JAL) has developed two proof-of-concept programs to provide supplemental training for engine mechanics, and for flight crew trainees who want to be promoted to co-pilot status.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that HoloLens can contribute to the safety of our business, which is the most important criteria for airlines,\u201d says Koji Hayamizu, senior director of the planning group for JAL\u2019s Products & Service Administration Department.<\/p>\n
Until now, flight crew trainees initially have learned in \u201cthe 2D world,\u201d aided by videos and printouts of cockpit panel instruments and switches, Hayamizu says. The flight crews\u2019 experiences using HoloLens will help convert \u201ctrainees\u2019 intellectual memory to muscle memory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engine mechanics \u201ccan study and be trained just as if they were working on the actual engine or cockpit,\u201d placing their hands on virtual engines and parts, he says.<\/p>\n
Microsoft HoloLens is the first fully untethered holographic computer powered by Windows 10. It uses mixed reality, blending 3D holographic content into the physical world, allowing users to interact with both digital content and the world around them. HoloLens is completely self-contained. There are no wires, phones or PC connection required.<\/p>\n Currently, flight crew trainees studying for promotion use mainly panels that display photos of cockpit instruments and switches to learn operational procedures in the early stages of their training. Using HoloLens, they will have a detailed hologram in front of their eyes that will display cockpit devices and switches that they can operate themselves, with visual and voice guidance provided through HoloLens.<\/p>\n Hands-on training for mechanics often means waiting for an appointment, or an available location, when a plane is in the hangar for maintenance.<\/p>\n To make that happen, \u201cWe have to coordinate many things,\u201d including factoring in additional time to deal with tasks such as removing the engine\u2019s cover, known as a cowling, to get to the engine itself, Hayamizu says.<\/p>\n With HoloLens, \u201cthe engine looks real, in front of you,\u201d he says. \u201cMechanics can learn an engine structure by extracting important parts with the simulation,\u201d learning names of parts and studying the structure of engines and surrounding systems, regardless of location or time of day.<\/p>\n So far, JAL has received positive feedback about the HoloLens training prototypes from flight crews and mechanics. At some point, Hayamizu says, it may even be \u201cpossible for us to bring a whole aircraft into the classroom\u201d using HoloLens.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe HoloLens has advantages and potential,\u201d he says. \u201cThe more I learn, the more I believe that we can utilize the characteristics of HoloLens for the unprecedented customer experience, not just focusing on the internal purposes such as training.\u201d<\/p>\n JAL\u2019s partnership with Microsoft, and the use of HoloLens, will give the airline an edge, Hayamizu says, something that is critical because the airline industry is such a \u201cvery competitive environment,\u201d especially with low-cost carriers expanding their share of the market.<\/p>\n Full-service carriers such as JAL need to differentiate themselves to travelers, he says, by providing \u201cfresh and impressive services.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why we believe it is essential to challenge (ourselves) to \u2018transform\u2019 our business in every situation,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n And with Microsoft HoloLens now among its tools, JAL is off the ground to doing just that.<\/p>\n Microsoft hololens demo: Worldwide Partner Conference 2016 Japan Airlines \u2013 Watch Video<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"JAL](\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/09JAL_Holo_image_Cockpit1-1024x576-1024x576.jpg\")
\nAn airliner\u2019s cockpit, as seen through Microsoft HoloLens. Photo courtesy of JAL.<\/em><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/Capture7-1024x368.jpg\")
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