Loft Dynamics has had its virtual reality simulator qualified by the FAA, making it the first FAA-qualified VR FSTD in the United States. This achievement is a landmark in aviation safety, the company says, 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 US pilot training. Outside the US, Loft Dynamics is the first and only VR simulator to achieve qualification from EASA.

For the first time, US 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 manoeuvres such as sling load operations and pinnacle operations.

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 modelling 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 US 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 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, customisable 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,” says 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 its support and commitment to improving the trajectory of simulation technology and pilot training. This is an important initial step for modernising 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, California 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 its Part 142 certificate.

Riesen continues: “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 catalyse 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,” says 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 honoured 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 adds. “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 recognised that its simulator would be a game-changer in training, especially in improving flight safety,” comments 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.”