Metropolia and Finnair Co-Design VR Training Programme for Pilot Students

In the future, students at the Finnair Flight Academy may have the opportunity to practise cockpit inspection in a virtual environment during the early stages of their training. Utilizing virtual reality (VR) in training enhances students’ retention and enables location-independent learning.

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has developed a new VR solution for aviation training in collaboration with Finnair. A team of experts and students designed a comprehensive VR-based training module specifically for Finnair.

Before flights, Finnair pilots conduct thorough pre-flight cockpit inspections. In the VR training developed by Metropolia, Finnair Flight Academy pilot students could practice inspecting the Airbus A350 cockpit within a realistic virtual environment. Students can perform inspection tasks such as adjusting instruments and switches to their correct positions.

“This solution differs from other training tools because it supports multiplayer functionality: two pilots can participate simultaneously. Since real flights always have two pilots, our virtual environment allows two students to interact and discuss their actions in real time”, explains Jenna Koskinen, Project Manager at Metropolia.

While VR headsets typically require handheld controllers, Metropolia’s solution for Finnair enables pilot students to see their own hands as they prepare the cockpit, enhancing the authenticity of the training experience. The use of virtual reality not only improves memory retention but also frees training from physical location constraints.

Finland Has Great Potential to Grow in the XR Sector

Arto Helovuo, Head of Compliance and Business Development at Finnair Flight Academy, emphasizes Finnair’s commitment to adopting innovative approaches and solutions in pilot training.

“The pilot’s work environment is constantly evolving. The need to develop training grows as pilots must understand and use a variety of new tools, systems, and procedures.”

According to Santeri Saarinen, XR Expert and Research and Development Manager at Metropolia, Finland possesses outstanding expertise in extended reality technologies and holds significant potential to strengthen its competitiveness in VR solutions. Saarinen notes that only a few Finnish companies are large enough to invest in XR training solutions independently. However, such solutions could be scaled for international markets.

“Initial investments in these projects are substantial, and a large volume of training is needed to recoup costs. Over time, though, VR training becomes a more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods”, Saarinen states.

The project was executed by a six-member team of students and experts working at Metropolia’s Helsinki XR Center (HXRC) and the Clean and Sustainable Solutions Innovation Hub.

This initiative is part of the XR-SPACE project led by Tampere University, where Metropolia, Tampere University, and nine companies collaborate to develop new solutions for multichannel analytics and risk management of professional vehicles in operational environments. The project broadly integrates leading Finnish businesses and research institutions, providing a strong foundation to enhance the competitiveness of Finland’s entire XR ecosystem.

Metropolia to Offer Aviation Engineering Education

Metropolia will further contribute to the development of the aviation sector by introducing new educational programs. Starting in Autumn 2025, students can enroll in the English-language Aircraft Engineer program, part of the Mechanical Engineering degree. The program will admit 60 students, about half of whom will specialize in aviation.

Jari Saatsi, Director of the Automotive and Mechanical Engineering School at Metropolia, explains that the degree has been developed in cooperation with Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra).

“The aviation industry is an important domestic employer, but until now, there has been no engineering program offering broad administrative skills tailored to the sector. Currently, aviation companies hire mechanical engineers and provide in-house training. Graduates of our new program will already possess the necessary competencies upon entering the field”, Saatsi says.

Additional Information:

Jenna Koskinen
Project Manager
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
jenna.koskinen [at] metropolia.fi (jenna[dot]koskinen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Santeri Saarinen
Research and Development Manager
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
santeri.saarinen [at] metropolia.fi (santeri[dot]saarinen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Finnair Media Desk
comms [at] finnair.com (comms[at]finnair[dot]com)