AFLCMC looks to ‘virtually’ revolutionize training, maintenance

  • Published
  • By Daryl Mayer, AFLCMC Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – The Rapid Sustainment Office is looking for ways to take products like Ironman’s heads-up display from the movie screen to the flightline. 
 
As the lead organization for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center charged with improving the sustainment enterprise, the RSO is reaching out to those on the leading edge of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) technology. 
 
Virtual Reality is a high fidelity, computer generated virtual environment useful for training as it would allow Airmen to practice procedures in a virtual world before doing them for real, according to Taylor Ruffin, RSO lead product manager for AR/VR.
 
Augmented Reality is using virtual overlays, images or graphics that alters the way we actually see the world, she said.  For example, pulling up instruction diagrams on a heads-up display while actually performing the steps. 
 
“So we don't really have to take down aircraft which we know is relatively costly to us and it allows for practice on high criticality, low frequency tasks before actually manipulating expensive equipment,” Ruffin said.  
 
Ultimately, reducing aircraft downtime will lead to an improvement in fleet readiness as well as cost savings, Ruffin said. 
 
To hear the full conversation, you can watch Leadership Log on YouTube at https://youtu.be/0sjEAta--B8.  You can also listen by searching “Leadership Log” on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Overcast, Radio Public or Breaker.