I’m standing inside a big hangar, looking at a Gulfstream G650 parked on the polished concrete floor. The G650’s left engine cowl is open, revealing a gleaming Rolls-Royce BR725 turbofan engine surprisingly unblemished with the dirt smudges that powerplants normally accumulate. I try to walk toward the maintenance stand next to the engine and after a few steps bump into something on the floor. But it isn’t something in the hangar, and I’m not really in a hangar. I’m inside a virtual reality (VR) world created by Rolls-Royce for BR725 technician training, and that’s why the engine is so pristine and also why I ran into my office chair while trying to walk towards the engine.
Rolls-Royce began VR training in March, with its two-day BR725 familiarization class. Participants join the class remotely, from their homes, offices, or maintenance facilities, logging in over the internet while wearing VR glasses and handheld VR controllers. Most sessions last about 45 minutes, followed by a break. The training is free for Rolls-Royce CorporateCare customers, and those not enrolled in CorporateCare can pay to attend.
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