The children’s ward of the Amphia Hospital in Breda will receive a special visit on 18 February. Real pilots come that day to teach the young patients how to fly with the help of VR glasses. This real-life experience should distract the children from their problems.
As soon as the virtual reality (VR) glasses are put on, a lifelike world is created for the sick children. A world without worries in which they are in control. The Pilots For Charity Foundation treats the patients of the Amphia Hospital to a real flying experience under the guidance of real pilots.
“When they make a loop, it really feels that way!”, says Giel Baaij, volunteer at Pilots For Charity. “They experience it in a safe way like a real pilot. They absolutely love that. Recently there was a kid who did 20 loops in a row.”
The sick children, aged six to seventeen, are helped by a real pilot. The captain does that on a voluntary basis, but does appear with all the bells and whistles.
“The experience is as complete as possible,” continues Baaij. “The pilot is therefore wearing his flying suit, including a cap, and a control stick. They also take a real aircraft trolley with them, one that normally serves food and drinks. It is equipped with a laptop, VR glasses and batteries. Everything is done to give the children a nice experience so that they forget their misery for a while.”