As aviation standards adapt to fit the everchanging needs of the industry, the training methods used to sharpen the skills of pilots evolve with them. In compliance with the standards upheld by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Envoy works hard to ensure our training programs are the best-of-the-best when it comes to regional flying.

From spending time in our full-motion flight simulators (SIMs) to practicing their walkarounds with our recently FAA-approved Virtual Reality (VR) training program, Envoy pilots receive industry-leading training all from our Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) location.

“Our in-house training team has been working hard over the last year to introduce this VR software into our training program,” said Envoy Director of Flight Training Captain Allen Hill. “We’re proud to say that not only have we received approval from the FAA to incorporate this into our program, but we are also the first U.S. airline to get this certification.”

Part of a pilot’s job is to perform a preflight walkaround of the aircraft where they visually inspect the plane for any issues before proceeding with their trip. This VR training program includes a simulated walkaround so pilots can learn about potential issues and address them in a training setting without requiring any actual damage.

While the preflight walkaround is a big part of the new VR software, Envoy pilots will also greatly benefit from the Flightdeck Flows and Checklists training included in the program. Following the proper flows and checklists is essential to operating a safe and successful flight, so the additional training provided to our pilots through this program is invaluable.

The new VR program will do more than add value to our pilot training, it also offers an opportunity for our Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) to get a look inside the flight deck and around an aircraft to finetune their skills in a simulated but realistic environment.

Although the VR headsets and joysticks can be found in a designated classroom in the training center at Envoy Headquarters (EHQ), pilots- and mechanics-in-training can still access the software through their own devices when they’re away from EHQ so that they can stay on top of their skills.

“This is going to be a game changer for our training programs,” said Envoy Manager of Flight Operations Training First Officer Raymond Hicks. “This has been a really exciting project to put together and I’m looking forward to seeing how it strengthens the skills of our employees in the future.”

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