Loft Dynamics has received FAA qualification for its virtual reality (VR) simulator, marking the first such recognition for a VR flight simulation training device (FSTD) in the U.S., according to the company. The recognition for the trainer followed approval from EASA, a first there as well.
Loft Dynamics called the approval “a landmark in aviation safety and a pivotal step in bringing advanced flight simulation technology to pilots and operators nationwide amid intensifying demand for pilots.” The company also maintained that it further cements the increasing influence VR will have in the future of U.S. pilot training.
With the FAA recognition, U.S. helicopter pilots can receive credit toward pilot ratings on the FAA-approved VR FSTD. The qualification allows use of the device for training in engine failures, abnormal and emergency procedures, and instrument approaches, but also for maneuvers such as sling load operations and pinnacle operations.
Approval followed what Loft Dynamics said was a rigorous qualification process under Part 60 involving the evaluation of the company’s Airbus Helicopters H125 VR FSTD at Marshall University. In addition, the FAA already had experience with Loft Dynamics simulators, installing them at its William J. Hughes Technical Center (WHTC) for its NextGen research, including with vertical flight safety.
The simulator, developed in concert with Airbus Helicopters, provides a full-scale virtual replica cockpit with a panoramic 360-degree view, verified flight modeling, and a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform that simulates flight visuals, movements, and scenarios. The VR FSTDs are smaller and significantly more cost-effective than traditional simulators, Loft Dynamics said.
“The FAA’s and EASA’s unprecedented qualifications of our technology reinforce the safety and fidelity of VR for pilot training,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “It provides a tangible path to solving the world’s pilot shortage and cultivating the next generation of high-quality pilots.”
The company recently opened a North American headquarters in Santa Monica, California, and is building a customer base for the H125 VR simulator that includes the Los Angeles Police Department. At the same time, to position itself for growth, the company is expanding its advisory board with the additions of former FAA Administrators Randy Babbitt and Michael Huerta.
“We spent the past year ensuring our technology meets regulatory requirements and thoughtfully scaling our talent, production, and high-touch customer support for this next chapter,” Riesen said. “We’re looking forward to continuously innovating and serving the critical needs of the helicopter industry while also bringing our FAA- and EASA-qualified solution to more aircraft markets.”
“Loft Dynamics incorporates actual accident and incident scenarios into training,” said Babbitt. “This accurately recreates flight operations in a fully immersive environment, allowing pilots to encounter emergencies such as autorotation, vortex ring state, and loss of tail rotor effectiveness without placing any lives in danger.”
“It has never been more vital to expand the pilot training pipeline, and cutting-edge simulators like the ones built by Loft Dynamics will be an essential part of this process,” Huerta said. “This technology has the power to help reverse the pilot shortage, significantly increase pilot proficiency, and prepare the country for advanced air mobility. I look forward to helping Loft Dynamics bring its qualified simulators to an even wider range of applications and pilots.”
Babbitt further discussed the expanded safety benefits of the trainer. “Loft Dynamics incorporates actual accident and incident scenarios into training,” he said. “This accurately recreates flight operations in a fully immersive environment, allowing pilots to encounter emergencies such as autorotation, vortex ring state, and loss of tail rotor effectiveness without placing any lives in danger.”