Loft Dynamics opens its first virtual reality flight simulation hub

Loft Dynamics, a provider of virtual reality (VR) flight simulation devices for pilots, has announced the opening of its first virtual reality flight simulation hub and the company’s first North American headquarters at Santa Monica Municipal Airport.

The new hub offers an easier avenue for North American pilots and aviation leaders to experience the future of pilot training and the benefits of VR technology.

At the same time, their full-motion FSTDs deliver high-fidelity, immersive pilot training at 1/20th the cost and 1/10th the size of legacy simulators.

“We recognized a significant unmet demand from pilots and aviation leaders, especially in the USA, who want to experience our technology in person. Establishing a physical space became the obvious solution, making it more convenient for them to fly our sims, practice a range of manoeuvres, and fully grasp the power of VR technology in this capacity,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics.

The company expanded to North America in late November 2021, integrating its simulators at various flight schools, helicopter operators and global regulatory organizations – from Airbus Helicopters to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

On 1 February, they also announced that the LAPD Air Support Division, the largest municipal airborne law enforcement operation in the world, has initiated the purchase of Loft Dynamics’ H125 VR FSTD.

Kevin Gallagher, Chief Pilot at Los Angeles Police Department said: “It’s incredibly challenging for any pilot today to realistically train for the dangerous manoeuvres and diverse scenarios in which we fly. Learning and mastering the skills and procedures needed to fly under instrument flight rules and to survive an [inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions] is no exception.

“Loft Dynamics’ sims use cloud-based software, allowing us to add new and applicable training scenarios regularly. Additionally, the sim’s full-motion technology precisely replicates the motion of a helicopter in flight, while the visual technology accurately simulates challenging flight conditions in a realistic 3D view.”