Nepal VR Training Initiative Targets Mountain Safety

EASA, Airbus Helicopters, and Loft Dynamics have launched a helicopter safety training program in Nepal that requires helicopter pilots to complete four hours of virtual-reality simulator training focused on mountain flying and emergency procedures.

The initiative aims to reduce helicopter accidents in Nepal’s high-altitude terrain and variable weather conditions. The month-long program in Kathmandu features a Loft Dynamics H125 VR flight simulator and training courses developed by Airbus Helicopters in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. 

Helicopter operations serve as a critical link for Nepal, providing transport, rescue, and tourism services to remote regions. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s 2025 safety report emphasized that navigating the country’s complex conditions requires high levels of pilot proficiency.

“By showcasing Loft Dynamics’ VR technology with our specialized training curricula during this dedicated Safety Roadshow, we are providing Nepali pilots with a concrete, hands-on training experience to master mountain flying and emergency scenarios,” said Arnd von Fabeck, head of aviation safety management and international network at Airbus Helicopters.

Instructors include Lorenz Nufer and Nick Mayhew for mountain flying training, and Klaus Kraus of Airbus International Services and Yann Guérin, head of training operations at Airbus Helicopters, for emergency training.

The program operates within the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project, a regional technical cooperation initiative implemented by EASA that supports aviation safety and regulatory convergence across South Asia.