X-Ray Vision in Aviation Training: How VR Makes the Invisible Visible
Contents
Bringing immersive VR into aviation maintenance isn’t just about adding technology to the classroom—it’s about transforming how students understand the systems they’ll work with in the field.
That vision came to life during our recent ATEC Summer Series webinar, “Virtual Reality Meets Aviation Education — A New ATEC Partnership with Xennial Digital.” Paul Holliman, Instructional Designer at Lorenzo Walker Technical College, shared a powerful story about how VR is improving their training program.
Students Learning by Doing
In aviation maintenance programs, some systems—like the PT6 turboprop engine—are simply too complex or resource-intensive to take apart regularly in class. When students break a part, it can cost over $50,000 to repair, or at times force the school to buy a new used engine for over $100,000. It is with good reason that students have limited access.
Students also need to see inside to understand how airflow, fuel, and moving parts come together, but the limitations of time, equipment wear, and resources can make that difficult.
As Holloman explained:
“Our lead instructor wanted students to somehow have x-ray vision to see inside the PT6 engine, because we can’t always take it apart in class. With VR, that’s exactly what he has.”
Immersive Learning That Changes the Game
With Xennial’s FAA-aligned VR Aviation modules, students at Lorenzo Walker gained the ability to:
🔹 Visualize systems in motion—tracking airflow and fuel movement inside the Lycoming O-320 and PT6 engines.
🔹 Practice safely and repeatedly, building confidence before handling real equipment.
🔹 Save time and resources, reducing wear-and-tear on costly hardware while increasing engagement.
As a result, students don’t just study engines—they see them in action and can review them as often as needed to master them.
Curious to Learn More or Activate Your ATEC Member Benefit?
Thanks to our new partnership with the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), member schools now have an exclusive opportunity to integrate VR into their programs. Through ATEC’s new affinity discount program, schools receive 33% off the annual license for Xennial’s VR Aviation Training Suite.
This initiative ensures that more schools can access cutting-edge training tools that prepare students for FAA certification while addressing the aviation industry’s growing demand for skilled technicians.
📩 Contact us at xennial@xennialdigital.com