First-of-its-kind technology solves global pilot shortage, growing demand for flight schools and urgent need to reduce air pollution
ZURICH and SAN FRANCISCO, December 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Loft Dynamics AG, creator of the world’s first and only virtual reality (VR) simulator licensed by a major aviation regulator, today announced that it has rebranded and increased $20 million in financing. This is the company’s first institutional funding round, led by US technology investors Craft Ventures, Sky Dayton, and Up Ventures. The financing will accelerate Loft Dynamics’ growth in international markets, particularly the UNITED STATES. Rebranding from VRM Switzerland to Loft Dynamics positions the company for global expansion at a time when pilot shortages have reached crisis point and the need to reduce air pollution has never been more urgent .
Loft dynamics increase $20 million for virtual reality pilot training to address the global pilot shortage
“After many years of development, we are ready to grow Loft Dynamics into a global company and bring our technology and training solutions to the world,” said Fabi Riesen, co-founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “This funding comes at exactly the right time as we will be able to meet the growing demand for flight schools and accelerate the range of aircraft types we support.”
Loft Dynamics already serves customers such as Airbus Helicopters, Air Zermatt, Colorado Highland Helicopters, Helitrans Norway, Meravo and Mountainflyers. Flight schools, airlines, fleet operators, governments and aircraft manufacturers are lining up for a better pilot training solution. With fewer pilots coming out of the military and the mass retirement of pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global need for trained pilots has never been higher. Loft Dynamics offers highly effective, exceptionally realistic, non-polluting, and considerably less expensive pilot training.
“When open-minded entrepreneurs apply innovative technology to a safety goal, big changes are possible in a short time. Loft Dynamics is leading the way in integrating virtual reality applications into pilot training,” said Patrick KyExecutive Director and Head of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). “EASA looks forward to seeing flight safety benefits as soon as possible, in line with the EASA Rotorcraft Safety Roadmap target of increasing safety by 50% by the end of the year. end of 2028 compared to 2017 figures.”
1/10th the size, 1/20th the cost
Loft Dynamics replaces old flight simulators and makes training safer. Traditional full-motion flight simulators are expensive, giant devices only available at limited training centers built specifically to house them. As a result, students are forced to complete most of their training in the actual aircraft, which is expensive and inconvenient for most aspiring pilots.
Over the past six years, Loft Dynamics’ team of engineers and aviation experts has developed a safer, more accessible, and more realistic training alternative: a unique helicopter simulator that combines a high-resolution VR system, a dynamic six-degree-of-freedom motion platform and full-scale replica cockpit – in a package 10 times smaller and about 20 times cheaper than traditional full-motion simulators. In addition, it reduces training time by up to 60%.
“At Airbus Helicopters, we are committed to advancing technology to improve training safety,” says Christopher Zammert, Executive Vice-President Customer Support & Services at Airbus Helicopters, strategic partner and customer of Loft Dynamics. “The Loft Dynamics simulator allows pilots to regularly train for the full range of normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, in addition to all kinds of weather conditions – safely and immersively anywhere in the world.”
the real thing
Loft Dynamics simulators provide pilots with a highly realistic and immersive flight experience. They combine panoramic views inside and outside the aircraft – from exact perspectives to accurate colors, shading, vibration, better visual cues, motion and dramatically more sound characteristics. of the real aircraft. The pilot experiences the correct loads and force feedback from the flight controls and is completely submerged.
“As a jet pilot, I’ve spent countless hours in traditional flight simulators, and unfortunately I know their limitations,” said Sky Dayton, investor and founder of Earthlink and Boingo Wireless, who joins the board of directors of Loft Dynamics. “I heard about this innovative company in Zürich combining VR with movement, and flew to Swiss to see it for myself. I was blown away by the realism: I landed on a track, and as the skids touched down, I felt the texture of the asphalt. I practiced emergency procedures that would be extremely dangerous in a real helicopter. A few days later, I still had muscle memory of the movements and vibrations of the actual aircraft. Loft Dynamics will revolutionize pilot training.”
A modernized training platform
Unlike traditional simulators, the Loft Dynamics training platform offers great flexibility for new modules, allowing pilots to practice what they will encounter in real life before encountering it.
The flexibility of the platform means that in the future, emergency response pilots will be able to practice landing on every building in their city, fire pilots will fly over mountains where they will fight wildfires, will train and retrain muscle memory and reflexes. Mountain flying, night operations, recovery from weather and wind shear, rescue, slinging loads – the possibilities for creating and training scenarios are endless.
World’s first regulatory approval
Loft Dynamics is the world’s first and only VR full motion simulator qualified by a major aviation regulator, with clearance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in May 2022 as an EASA FTD Level 3 Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) for the Airbus H125 (developed in conjunction with Airbus Helicopters), the world’s most popular single-engine turbine-powered helicopter, and the Robinson R22, the most popular piston helicopter. This means that pilots can train in Loft Dynamics simulators and receive credits just like in the real plane. Full equivalence has never been granted to a VR system before.
About Loft Dynamics
Loft Dynamics SAformerly VRMotion AG, was founded in Zürich in 2018 and became the market leader in developing and building VR training devices for helicopter pilots. It was the first to receive EASA FTD Level 3 clearance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a VR full motion simulator. With a talented team of passionate engineers, highly specialized developers, and dedicated aviation experts, Loft Dynamics helps leading aircraft manufacturers, airlines, aviation operators, flight schools, and training organizations around the world provide safer and more effective pilot training.
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SOURCECraft Ventures; Loft dynamics
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