Global pioneer in digital aviation simulation, Loft Dynamics, has opened its first virtual reality (VR) simulation “hub” forming the company’s first North American headquarters at Santa Monica Airport (SMO).
The high-end simulator utilizes the very latest in aviation simulation technology and is targeted at pilots of all levels of experience and offers a hands-on way for flyers to experience the most modern training techniques along with the chance to potentially fly over landmarks all across the world.
“We recognized a significant unmet demand to experience our technology in person in the U.S. Establishing a physical space became the obvious solution, making it more accessible to fly our sims, practice a range of maneuvers, and fully grasp the power of VR technology in this capacity,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “Our SMO location offers convenient access for a high concentration of pilots and enhances onsite and remote support for our North American customers.”
Dübendorf-based Loft Dynamics (formerly VRM Switzerland) expanded to North America in 2021, integrating its simulators at various flight schools, helicopter operators, and global regulatory organizations, including Airbus Helicopters and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The company has permanently taken up residence in one of the many empty spaces inside the main terminal building at 3221 Donald Douglas Loop South and the hub features the company’s Airbus H125 VR Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD).
Riesen says he’s calling it a “hub” because it will act as both a showroom where potential customers can come along and try it out for themselves and as an actual classroom that can be booked by flight training instructors for trainee pilot tuition.
Loft Dynamics has already sold a number of these training devices to organizations around the world. Several months ago, Whistler-based rotary wing operator Blackcomb Helicopters acquired the technology to increase its flight training capabilities while removing the safety risks and the carbon emissions of in-flight training.
A number of different simulators are available from the Swiss company, with the H125 enabling training on a single turbine helicopter.
During the official opening ceremony, the company announced that the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division, the largest municipal airborne law enforcement operation in the world, has initiated a purchase of the H125 VR FSTD.
“It’s incredibly challenging for any pilot today to realistically train for the dangerous maneuvers and diverse scenarios in which we fly,” Kevin Gallagher, Chief Pilot, Los Angeles Police Department, Air Support Division, said adding, “Learning and mastering the skills and procedures needed to fly under instrument flight rules and to survive an inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions flight is no exception.”
Loft Dynamics simulations use cloud-based software, allowing the regular addition of new and applicable training scenarios. Moreover, 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.
“These features are critical to providing our more than 50 pilots, who fly around the clock, with the type of conditions and maneuvers they often encounter. With the sim onsite, our pilots can regularly and safely train to maintain proficiency in these essential skills,” Gallagher said.
The fully immersive ISO 9001-certified simulators are equipped with a three dimensional high-resolution panoramic view, dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and a full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system. Each device is 20 times less expensive and 10 times smaller than traditional flight simulators. The VR headset offers a 3D, 90Hz frame refresh rate, 2 x 8 megapixel resolution and 30 pixel-per-degree display.
Mayor Phil Brock cut the ribbon at a packed event on Thursday evening saying, “We have a long tradition of flying in Santa Monica, over 100 years. It was, at one time, the busiest single-runway airport in the world and it played a pivotal role in the aviation industry,” he said.
“We’re more than happy to welcome Loft to Santa Monica [and they’re] bringing their first ever demo facility in the United States here. That’s an achievement,” Brock said adding, “And they’re using technology to address one of the aviation industries’ most pressing needs, a more accessible and lower cost way to safely train pilots in real world scenarios.”
“In addition, Loft is going to help nurture that next generation of pilots and a lot of those will be flying in electric planes as well as vertical takeoff and landing aircraft … We’re a great incubator for all sorts of new technology. We want to head forward into the future and we’re happy to have Loft in our future.”