Juan Valverde on advancing virtual testing and certification

Juan Valverde on advancing virtual testing and certification

by | Nov 12, 2025 | Innovation, Video

In the race to get new solutions to the market, virtual testing provides critical insights on product development to make aviation as advanced as possible. MathWorks is one company leading the charge in simulation, computing, and engineering platforms that can detect design issues early. At Aerospace Tech Week 2025, Juan Valverde, MathWorks’s Aerospace and Defence Industry Manager, explained where he sees the key challenges and opportunities in virtual testing.

We are in the era of data. Everything is data. How can we convert this into something that’s usable?

Developing high-fidelity models that truly simulate how different systems will perform is no easy task. However, Valverde sees collaboration as essential to driving progress and eliminating potential silos, especially when many companies still rely on paper-based workflows.

When different teams work in isolation, it’s very difficult to identify an error in testing that’s dependent on something that needs to be integrated later. For me, this is a very big gap.

As the industry grows, teams have expanded, sometimes spanning multinational corporations. Valverde wants to see mindset shifts and real investment that will unlock new methodologies to power these bigger projects.

We have many customers working with us and out tools on these challenges. We’d like to continue to understand how we can cover these gaps. 

🎥 Watch the interview to hear the full conversation with Juan Valverde.

Questions asked include:

  • How have we seen the virtual testing landscape develop in recent years?
  • How can new methodologies adapt to the increasingly complex environment we’re seeing?
  • How can advanced tech support design and verification processes?
  • What are the biggest gaps in aerospace testing right now?

Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the future of testing and certification. 

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Boeing to launch virtual pilot training powered by Microsoft

Boeing to launch virtual pilot training powered by Microsoft

by | Nov 7, 2025 | Innovation

Boeing has announced the launch of a new virtual pilot training platform powered by Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Through highly accurate 3D simulations of Boeing aircraft, the Virtual Airplane Procedures Trainer (VAPT) provides flight crew with flexible, realistic training support. On a laptop or tablet, pilots can use the simulator to learn flows and checklists, and improve overall familiarisation before stepping into a physical simulator.

It is hoped that the new virtual simulator will reduce overall costs while standardising training. The CEO of Boeing Global Services, Chris Raymond, commented:

We’re very excited about the launch of Virtual Airplane. This new software will significantly impact how and when pilots and operators train and will provide them with much-needed flexibility. This new platform reflects Boeing’s commitment to digital innovation as we seek to leverage the latest technologies to improve our offerings and outcomes for our customers.

VAPT is currently available for the 737 MAX, with other aircraft simulators launching soon. Since the 1980s, Microsoft Flight Simulator has been a leader in the field, providing users with highly realistic environments to test their aviation skills. Virtual weather updates and air traffic control modelling have enhanced the software’s relevance to real-world scenarios.

Dayan Rodriguez, Corporate Vice President, Manufacturing and Mobility, Microsoft, added:

Microsoft is committed to accelerating learning while optimising confidence for pilots with safety at the core. Partnering with Boeing, we are advancing the future of flight by empowering the people at the heart of it.

Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the talent and technology the industry needs in the future.

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