VR Helicopter Maintenance Academy – Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviation Engineers

AHIA sought to engage and educate young Australians about helicopter maintenance careers amid a growing industry-wide skill shortage. Traditional outreach lacked interactivity and impact, especially with digital-native audiences. The challenge was to create a portable, intuitive, and immersive interface that allowed participants to connect with a highly technical and often overlooked career path. The experience also needed to integrate AHIA’s updated campaign branding, be deployable at large-scale events, and effectively communicate the value of aviation engineering through engaging digital interaction.

The team delivered Level 1 of the VR Maintenance Academy, focused on the Robinson R44. Players use native hand tracking on Meta Quest 3 for a true “hands-on” interaction with tools and helicopter components. Guided by voice-over (no text overlays), users complete tasks in a 3D hangar and inside the cockpit—learning procedures engineers use daily. Each session ends with a reward: a cinematic VR helicopter flight over Sydney Harbour or the Great Barrier Reef. Designed in Unity and built with aviation specialists, the experience premiered at the 2025 Victoria Airshow and laid the foundation for future academy levels.

The experience was trialled by over 1,000 participants at the 2025 Australian International Airshow. It made aviation engineering accessible, engaging, and memorable for a younger audience—many of whom had never considered a maintenance career before. The clear, gamified interface created a strong emotional connection with the work. AHIA now uses the module as a travelling outreach tool for schools and expos. It’s not just a demo—it’s a working interface designed to spark real interest in the aviation sector and address a national workforce gap in an innovative and scalable way.

Native Hand Tracking: Users interact directly with virtual tools, allowing for intuitive, realistic maintenance procedures without controllers. Mission-Based Scenarios: Players choose between flights over iconic Australian locations to contextualise their maintenance tasks. Realistic VR Environment: A visually rich hangar space sets the scene for technical engagement. Cinematic Reward: Successful task completion unlocks a dynamic flight simulation. Onboard User Guidance: Smart UI prompts support user onboarding without breaking immersion. Portable Setup: Designed for quick setup and reliable performance across public events. Custom Branding: Full integration of AHIA’s campaign identity creates consistency across touchpoints. Unity-Built Flexibility: Modular design structure supports future updates or scenario additions.