As the First and Only VR Training Devices with
Dual Regulatory Qualifications from FAA and EASA, Loft Dynamics is
Well-Positioned as It Expands Simulation to Airplanes, eVTOLs, and
Additional Helicopters
Former FAA Administrators Randy Babbitt and Michael Huerta Join Loft
Dynamics' Advisory Board
U.S. Helicopter Pilots Can Now Train and
Receive Credit Toward Pilot Ratings on Loft Dynamics' Qualified VR
Flight Training Device
SANTA
MONICA, Calif. and ATLANTIC CITY,
N.J., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Loft
Dynamics, the global leader in virtual reality (VR) flight
simulation training devices (FSTDs), today announced that the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has qualified its VR
simulator — the first FAA-qualified VR FSTD in the United States. This achievement is 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. It also cements VR's
increasingly influential role in the future of U.S. pilot training.
Outside the U.S., Loft Dynamics is the first and only VR simulator
to achieve qualification from the European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA).
For the first time, U.S. helicopter pilots can train and receive
credit toward pilot ratings on an FAA-approved VR FSTD, provided it
is a Loft Dynamics VR FSTD. This qualification allows the simulator
to be used not only for training in engine failures, abnormal and
emergency procedures, and instrument approaches but also for
challenging maneuvers such as sling load operations, pinnacle
operations, and more.
The FAA's rigorous qualification process requires FSTDs to be
evaluated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 60 and meet extensive
operational requirements. The FAA evaluated Loft Dynamics' VR
simulator using its Airbus-approved H125 VR FSTD at Marshall University. Qualified as a flight training
device, Loft Dynamics' H125 VR simulator features a full-scale
virtual replica cockpit, a panoramic 360-degree view, verified
flight modeling, and a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform that
accurately simulates flight visuals, movements, and scenarios.
These FSTDs are smaller and significantly more cost-effective than
traditional simulators. All pilots in the U.S. are required to
train regularly in an aircraft or flight simulator, which is why
the qualification of Loft Dynamics' simulator is a crucial step
toward helping more operators conduct this training and address the
growing pilot shortage, and why regulatory agencies are embracing
and mandating the use of the company's FSTDs.
Last year, the FAA installed Loft Dynamics simulators at
its William J. Hughes Technical Center (WHTC) to advance the
safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability goals of its
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). As part of
this initiative, the agency uses the simulator to conduct vertical
flight safety research, including engaging hundreds of test pilots
to fly the simulator.
The FAA's approval of the first VR simulator shifts pilot
training paradigms, expanding access to the most immersive,
customizable, and scalable training solutions. This is also a
pivotal moment for Loft Dynamics, as the company is
already developing electric vertical take-off and landing
(eVTOL) and airplane simulators, broadening its industry impact and
value.
"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. We're not paving this path alone; we're
grateful for Airbus Helicopters' conviction in Loft Dynamics,
dedication to achieving FAA qualification, and commitment to making
our FSTDs available to the masses. We're grateful to the FAA for
their support and commitment to improving the trajectory of
simulation technology and pilot training. This is an important
initial step for modernizing pilot training, and it also signifies
a broader industry shift toward leveraging our VR technology to
address global challenges."
Loft Dynamics' recent opening of its North
American headquarters in Santa
Monica has established a base for its continental expansion,
now accelerated by the FAA qualification. The company's growing
market trust is evidenced by its customers and partners, including
the Los Angeles Police Department,
which uses its H125 VR simulator to train its pilots safely and
effectively, and Airbus Helicopters, which co-developed the H125 VR
simulator and supported its FAA qualification through sponsorship
under their Part 142 Certificate.
Riesen continued, "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. 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. As part of this growth, we're thrilled to welcome two
former FAA administrators and aviation veterans, Randy Babbitt and Michael Huerta, to our advisory board to help
catalyze our mission."
The new advisors will be instrumental in the company's next
phase of growth, especially in developing products that meet the
needs of the entire aviation ecosystem: pilots, airlines and
commercial operators, manufacturers, and regulators.
In addition to his past role as head of the FAA, Babbitt served
on the agency's Management Advisory Council and brings decades of
experience as a pilot and former president of the Air Line Pilots
Association. Huerta spent many years in FAA leadership, including a
five-year term as administrator, and has extensive industry
experience as a consultant and board member for Delta Air Lines and
Joby Aviation. Babbitt and Huerta are
prominent advocates for simulators in improving pilot
training and aviation safety.
"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. I'm honored to join Loft Dynamics and help lead the way to
a safer and more sustainable future for aviation."
"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."
"From the beginning of our partnership with Loft Dynamics, we
recognized that its simulator would be a game-changer in training,
especially in improving flight safety," said Melchior Kaag, Vice President of Training and
Flight Operations at Airbus Helicopters. "Today, this journey takes
a new turn. Another major aviation authority places its trust in
Loft Dynamics' VR device as a direct response to industry-wide
training needs, a milestone made possible through our partnership
with Loft. I believe this achievement ignites passion among future
pilots and will help alleviate the pilot shortage for years to
come."
About Loft Dynamics
Loft Dynamics AG is the global leader in qualified virtual reality
flight simulation training devices (FSTD). It is the first and only
VR FSTD qualified by the FAA and the first and only VR FSTD
qualified by EASA. Equipped with a 3D high-resolution panoramic
view, dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform, and
full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system, our
revolutionary VR simulators provide a more immersive, realistic,
customizable, and safe training experience. By offering a training
solution 10 times smaller and significantly more cost-effective
than legacy simulators, we enhance training accessibility and
scalability, empowering highly skilled pilots to meet global
demand. We serve leading manufacturers, airlines, operators,
schools, and organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and Zurich, Switzerland, our team comprises
passionate engineers, developers, and aviation experts.
Visit www.loftdynamics.com.
CONTACT: Press@loftdynamics.com
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SOURCE Loft Dynamics