Boeing announced Tuesday that Alaska Airlines has signed a formal licensing agreement for the aerospace company’s Virtual Airplane training platform, marking a broader push toward digital and flexible pilot training solutions for commercial aviation.

The agreement was announced during the World Aviation Training Summit (WATS) in Orlando, where Boeing said Alaska Airlines would fully adopt the system after participating as a development partner during its testing phase.

According to Boeing, the Virtual Airplane platform allows pilots to practice aircraft procedures outside traditional simulator environments using computers and tablet devices. The company said the system is designed to help airlines standardize training, reduce time spent familiarizing crews with full-flight simulators, and improve pilot readiness.

The first module currently available is the Procedures Trainer application for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft family. Boeing said it expects to add additional aircraft models in the future.

“Alaska Airlines’ commitment to innovation and safety has been instrumental in the development of Virtual Airplane,” Chris Broom, Boeing’s vice president of Commercial Training Solutions, said in a statement. He added that the airline’s transition from beta testing to full implementation demonstrated confidence in the technology’s role in pilot preparedness and operational readiness.

Alaska Airlines said the platform would complement existing simulator-based instruction by enabling pilots to train remotely and repeatedly on key procedures.

“Our collaboration with Boeing on Virtual Airplane has allowed us to provide our pilots with flexible, realistic training tools that complement traditional simulator sessions,” said Jeff Severns, managing director of Flight Operations Training at Alaska Airlines.

The aviation industry has increasingly turned to digital and modular training systems in recent years as airlines seek to address pilot shortages, rising training costs, and growing demand for operational efficiency. Advanced virtual platforms also help reduce pressure on expensive full-motion simulators, which remain essential for certification and emergency scenario training.

For passengers, the technology is unlikely to produce immediate visible changes, but airlines and manufacturers argue that enhanced procedural training could contribute to improved operational consistency and pilot proficiency.

Boeing said the agreement underscores its broader strategy to expand training and aviation services alongside its commercial aircraft business. The company did not disclose financial terms of the agreement.

Source: Boeing PR