New Virtual Reality Tool Aims To Reduce Aviation Crashes Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Pilots Jerry Griffin (left) of the Birmingham Police Department and Jonathan Johnson of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office conduct a helicopter training flight using new virtual reality technology. Russell Lewis / NPR Aviation has a problem that has vexed the industry for decades: when pilots unintentionally fly into clouds, lose control and crash. From the dawn of aviation until now, it's caused thousands of accidents. It happens to student pilots and some of the most experienced aviators. Just in the last month, that's believed to be what happened in two fatal National Guard helicopter crashes in Idaho and New York that killed six people. And, last week, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that's why a helicopter crashed in 2020, killing basketball star Kobe Bryant and eight others.