France’s civil aviation regulator (DGAC) has approved Airbus Helicopters as the first OEM to offer type rating training using a combination of the Loft Dynamics virtual reality (VR) flight simulator and the helicopter. In 2023, EASA qualified the Loft VR simulator for “all aspects of pilot training and checking,” according to the company.
“Now, France’s DGAC has become the first national authority to act on this new framework, approving a type rating program that uses a certified VR FSTD [flight simulation training device] and the aircraft—without requiring a full flight simulator,” according to Loft Dynamics.
“Helicopter training and checking has long faced a painful trade-off: rely on limited-access, cost-prohibitive full-flight simulators, or conduct high-risk maneuvers in the aircraft itself,” said Loft Dynamics CEO Fabi Riesen. “One-third of all helicopter accidents occur during training and checking—that tells you everything.
“With this approval, Airbus, EASA, and DGAC have shown how we begin to reverse that statistic and what the future of safer, more accessible pilot training looks like. This milestone proves that our VR technology is ready to support complex certification programs—including with one of the world’s most respected OEMs. It also builds on the important regulatory groundwork laid by EASA and reflects the bold leadership of Airbus in turning the vision of safer, more scalable training into reality.”