A terrifying soundtrack, a crash landing and water flooding into the cabin: The virtual reality experience that could be the future of in-flight safety videos

  • Simulation available on Oculus Rift shows plane crashing on water
  • Cries, screams and shouting heard as plane rapidly descends
  • Shows what happens if you make attempts to grab your luggage 
  • Based on actual incident in 2009 when U.S. Airways Airbus A320 made successful landing in Hudson River with no casualties 

By John Hutchinson for MailOnline

Published: 07:04 EST, 22 April 2015 | Updated: 07:51 EST, 22 April 2015

This is one safety video you won't be able to take your eyes off.

A dramatic virtual environment has been created using a headset that shows how passengers would survive a plane crash landing on water.

The short film has been developed on an Oculus Rift - a virtual reality headset - by Italy's University of Udine's HCI Lab.

It is hoped the simulation can make people aware of the correct processes to follow for a landing on water

It is hoped the simulation can make people aware of the correct processes to follow for a landing on water

The video is based on an actual event when, on January 15, 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 was forced into a landing on water.

Following a series of bird strikes, both engines failed, and the Airbus A320, piloted by Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger was forced to land in the Hudson River.

Incredibly of the 155 on board, only one person was hospitalised ovenight, and the incident became known as 'Miracle on the Hudson.'

With the dramatic background music, this video could well prove to be much more effective than a safety notice and demonstration.

The scene begins by the passenger being welcomed onto the plane by the flight attendant, before a gentle walk to locate the seat.

The start of the virtual reality programme starts casual enough as the passenger moves to their seat

The start of the virtual reality programme starts casual enough as the passenger moves to their seat

A large bang is heard on the simulation before the plane starts to rapidly descend

A large bang is heard on the simulation before the plane starts to rapidly descend

Once seated the film jolts into action when a loud bang is heard, and the plane rocks from side to side.

As the plane descends quickly and abruptly, the user is told that the 'goal is to come out unharmed from the aircraft by following safe procedures.'

The first thing to do is inflate the life jacket. What follows is a jog down the cabin and to the emergency exit, where the flight attendant is beckoning you out of the door and onto the evacuation slide.

The video pans to the passenger reaching into the overhead lockers for their luggage

The video pans to the passenger reaching into the overhead lockers for their luggage

But doing this results in putting yourself in immense danger of drowning in the incoming water

But doing this results in putting yourself in immense danger of drowning in the incoming water

There are cries, screams and shouting, just what you would expect from the real thing.

A chilling scene then appears telling you to beware of making mistakes - in this instance it is wasting time grabbing luggage.

This is shown when, after grabbing the luggage, the passenger is overcome with water - this actually forces the man who has taken the simulation on to remove the headset and puff his cheeks.

Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Luca Chittaro, head of the project, said: 'The 'Emergency Water Landing VR' demo we have just released for the Oculus Rift was developed in the last year, and is just one of a series of aviation safety education games we are developing for all possible technological platforms, not just the Oculus Rift.

'Airlines are already using video safety briefings on-board some aircrafts and they do not seem to engage passenger's attention any more than conventional briefings. 

Of the simulation video, he added: 'It's a personalized, experiential way of learning, more engaging than passively watching a video or a safety briefing or reading a safety card.' 

This user made it as far as the 'what happens if you reach for your baggage' before the water overpowering him made him remove the headset

This user made it as far as the 'what happens if you reach for your baggage' before the water overpowering him made him remove the headset

And it produces measurable results.

'In the study of our virtual water landing experience, we had one group of people study a traditional airline safety card and another group playing the virtual reality game,' added Chittaro.

'After one week, people who had studied the safety card suffered a significant loss of knowledge, while passengers who had played the game fully retained the safety knowledge gained. 

'Considering that 'Emergency Water Landing VR' is the world's first prototype of an airliner water landing and evacuation experience, we are satisfied with the result.' 

 

 

 

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