Aviation

Air Canada Develops Virtual Reality Experience to Showcase its Unique Dreamliner Offering

Travelers can fly, dine and play virtually on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the comfort of their chair

MONTREAL, Nov. 9, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to use virtual reality technology to simulate the experience of flying on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner for travel agents and potential customers.

Through a fully immersive, interactive experience, users can explore all three cabins of service offered on board the aircraft, including enjoying a virtual International Business Class meal complete with wine in an Executive Pod.

“Air Canada is always developing new ways to enhance the customer experience and to engage partners such as the travel agent community, which plays a key role in helping our customers select the travel options best suited to them.

Virtual reality enables us to familiarize thousands of travel agents and potential customers with Air Canada’s offerings through the magic of an interactive, virtual tour,” said Duncan Bureau, Vice President, Global Sales at Air Canada. “We have already seen an increase in bookings since we began using this technology.”

With the headset on, and controls in hand, the journey begins with an overview of Air Canada’s global route network followed by an exploration of the new Air Canada livery.

On the trip users can experience all three cabins: Economy, Premium Economy or International Business.

Amenity kits, an Air Canada enRoute magazine, tray tables, and in-flight entertainment are just some of the elements that can be touched, opened and moved, guided by an audio-based flight attendant. Interactive experiences such as dinner service add an extra element of fun.

To complement the Virtual Reality Experience, Air Canada has produced 360 degree videos of the 787 cabin that can be accessed on a mobile device or desktop at https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features.html.

Air Canada’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner virtual reality experience will be available at the following events:

Air Canada Pop-Up Poutinerie, Shoreditch, London (UK), until November 11, 2017.
True Patriot Love Gala, Toronto, November 9, 2017;
BAZAR ED, Santiago, Chile. November 22 to 26, 2017;
WX Top 100 Leadership Summit, Toronto, November 23, 2017;
EY Entrepreneur of the Year National Gala, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, November 30, 2017.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”