Virtual reality simulator company Loft Dynamics (formerly VRM Switzerland) said its EASA-approved training devices for the Robinson R22 and Airbus H125 helicopters are being evaluated by the FAA. Both simulators have been installed at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The newly installed Robinson R22 EASA-qualified flight and navigation procedures trainer and EASA level-3 Airbus H125 flight training device feature full-scale replica cockpits and 360-degree views for precise visual cues inside and outside the aircraft; realistic flight models for accurate studies of nominal and off-nominal events and development of safety metrics dependent on rotorcraft aerodynamics; six-degrees-of-freedom motion platforms, replicating haptic sensations including sling loads, runway texture, and force feedback from flight controls; adaptable software for customizable training scenarios that mirror real-world encounters, terrain, and maneuvers; and a compact size that the company said is 10 times smaller than that of traditional full-motion simulators.
"To receive approval from EASA and now introduce our technology to the FAA is an exciting and important milestone," said Loft Dynamics founder and CEO Fabi Riesen. "We're thrilled to kick off this partnership and collectively forge a safer, more scalable, and sustainable future for U.S. aviation.”