When new technologies emerge, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), internet of things (IoT), and even quantum computing. The instinct is often to apply them to one’s own industry. But not all innovations are a natural fit. Some technologies are inherently better suited to specific sectors. Virtual reality, for instance, aligns well with gaming, where immersive environments enhance user experience. Blockchain thrives in areas requiring verifiable tracking, such as supply chains or voting systems.

Despite this, many industries including aviation, frequently attempt to adopt these technologies wholesale, often without a clearly defined problem to solve. The result is a wave of incubator pilots and startup investments that rarely reach commercial viability. Aviation is no exception. Airbus, for example, once explored offering VR helmets to passengers, but the initiative stalled due to regulatory challenges and unclear market demand. Similarly, Winding Tree sought to reinvent airline booking with a blockchain-based system, but after seven years of limited adoption and scalability issues, the project was discontinued.

The limited adoption of Winding Tree wasn’t solely a matter of technical scalability, it also revealed how entrenched industry structures, legacy systems, and stakeholder incentives can block innovation, even when the tech itself is sound. Lufthansa, Air Canada, and SWISS all announced early partnerships with Winding Tree, but later paused or quietly abandoned active integration (Travel Weekly, Phocuswire, PaxEx Aero).

“Many emerging technologies in the sector often resemble solutions in search of a problem.”

 

Many emerging technologies in the sector often resemble solutions in search of a problem. In contrast, Honeywell Aerospace took a problem-first approach. With GoDirect Trade, a digital marketplace for used aircraft parts, the company tackled the longstanding inefficiencies and trust issues in the secondary parts market.

More than 2,400 companies now participate in GoDirect Trade, including 65 sellers, among them Boeing, which has listed over US$1 billion in excess parts. These listings are  photos and documentation stored on an immutable digital ledger, ensuring transparency and building buyer confidence. In its first year alone, GoDirect Trade generated US$7 million in sales, demonstrating the platform’s strong value proposition. Airlines clearly need a reliable source for affordable, traceable parts to meet safety and operational standards.

 

Virtual reality is often criticized as one of the least practical emerging technologies, but Loft Dynamics has proven its value in aviation. In 2021, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the company’s Airbus H125 VR Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) for official pilot training. Then in July 2024, it became the first VR-based simulator to receive qualification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), making it the only VR FSTD approved by both of the world’s leading aviation regulators.

While VR simulators show great promise, they currently complement rather than replace traditional full-flight training. Broader adoption still depends on regulatory harmonization and institutional trust.

These simulators are helping democratize access to high-quality pilot training. Significantly smaller and more affordable than traditional full-flight simulators, they can be deployed in a wider range of training facilities without compromising on capability. They support a comprehensive suite of training scenarios, including engine failures, emergency procedures, instrument approaches, sling load operations, and pinnacle landings.

As a result, major aviation organizations such as Airbus Helicopters and Alaska Airlines have incorporated Loft Dynamics’ VR simulators into their training programs. The company is now expanding globally and developing additional systems for fixed-wing aircraft and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, in collaboration with partners like Alaska Airlines and Dufour Aerospace.

 

Airbus’s Skywise platform stands out as a compelling example of how artificial intelligence can deliver measurable value in aviation. Launched in 2017 in collaboration with Palantir Technologies, Skywise is a data analytics ecosystem that aggregates and analyzes information from aircraft sensors, maintenance logs, and operational systems to enable smarter, faster decision-making.

By late 2024, the platform had connected over 11,600 aircraft and attracted more than 48,000 users globally. Its AI-driven predictive maintenance capabilities have directly reduced operational disruptions. For example, easyJet reported avoiding 79 flight cancellations in just two months of 2024 by using Skywise Fleet Performance. Delta Airlines has similarly reported a 10% to 20% reduction in maintenance task time by streamlining workflows through Skywise’s integrated data environment.

 

“Transparency and trust remain essential for sustained adoption.”

 

Despite its measurable benefits, Skywise’s centralized data model has sparked concerns about data governance and reliance on external providers. Transparency and trust remain essential for sustained adoption.

Beyond efficiency gains, Skywise has also played a critical role in safety. In 2022, its analytics identified a serious issue affecting Airbus A330neo aircraft, prompting the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to issue an emergency airworthiness directive, proactive intervention that may have averted a catastrophic failure.

Skywise continues to evolve as Airbus integrates emerging technologies such as generative AI and digital twins. With more than 600 generative AI use cases identified across departments, from engineering to customer service. Airbus is expanding the platform’s role from predictive analytics to a broader digital transformation tool for the aerospace industry.

 

Honeywell’s GoDirect Trade, Loft Dynamics’ VR simulators, and Airbus’s Skywise platform succeeded because they solved specific, high-impact problems in aviation. Rather than applying technology for its own sake, each initiative addressed a clear operational need, whether improving trust in parts sourcing, expanding access to pilot training, or optimizing aircraft maintenance through AI.

The key lesson for aviation innovators is clear: success depends on practical, problem first applications. These technologies worked because they aligned with regulatory standards, delivered measurable value, and fit seamlessly into real-world workflows, offering a blueprint for meaningful, scalable innovation in aviation.