The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has added Virtual Flight Academy, a new benefit for members to support its pilot proficiency and training efforts. TakeFlight Interactive, a company that connects game-based learning with real-world aviation, will power the academy with its development of a virtual flight instructor. The virtual instructor features capabilities including guiding users through maneuvers in the simulator, instructional and real-time feedback, and scoring of the pilot’s performance against FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

“We are thrilled to roll out EAA Virtual Flight Academy this year at AirVenture,” said TakeFlight founder and CEO Brandon Seltz. “I was working as a lead designer on the Microsoft Flight Simulator development team around the time I started taking flight lessons. I soon saw the opportunity to create a new technology, our virtual flight instructor, to make your time in simulators far more effective. It’s not intended to replace a real flight instructor, but to help make your experience of learning to fly, or improving your proficiency, much more efficient and fun.”

Each module provided by the academy will contain a lesson an evaluation scenario based upon FAA ACS. “Whether it’s your first flight or your 500th, EAA understands what it takes to maximize your safe enjoyment in the cockpit and build proficiency at home,” said Dave Chaimson, EAA vice president of marketing and business development.