Why Oshkosh Pilots Will Totally Need This Stinking Badge

Everybody knows that EAA's annual airshow AirVenture Oshkosh is around the corner, and hopefully by now, everybody knows that one of the biggest draws will be the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center. The Center will give pilots like you and me the chance to fly scenarios in Redbird Flight Simulators to test their proficiency even when the flying conditions---IMC, VFR or some unholy mixture of the two---gets really challenging. This year's Center promises pilots more of the same great scenarios and then some (see our story on the details here), and some value added fun, too.

This year, there's a great new twist. Instant replay. When pilots check into the Center, they'll be given a lanyard with a badge that carries a unique QR code that they can use to check in and check on their sim time, and that the instructor will use to log into the sim and record the flight.

Redbird Flight Simulations badge for AirVenture 2016

The flying part will challenge pilots, as always. (Hmm, was it really a good idea to fly VFR on a scuzzy day across this high ridgeline with restricted areas all around with the ceiling dropping and now we're running low on fuel?) But now when they're done, pilots will be able to use the same QR code on their badge to download the blow-by-blow video of their sim session. The easiest way is for pilots to head right next door to Redbird's big tent and go through a debrief, with Redbird instructors on hand to help. Pilots can take a closer look at their performance, with graphs and charts that dive into detail on shaky ILs or their rock-solid 360-degree turns. They can, of course, watch it themselves or, if they're brave enough, they can even share it with friends. Fortunately, pilots won't have to make that decision until after they've had a chance to watch the tape themselves.

The software that makes this all possible was developed by Redbird and is based on the company's Sidekick software, which uploads flight data to the cloud for later review.

For more information about the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center at AirVenture Oshkosh, visit the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center Site.

Learn more about Redbird Flight Simulations at simulators.redbirdflight.com.

Isabel GoyerWriter

A commercial pilot, editor-in-Chief Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.