New VR Training Expands Pilot Skills in Simulators

Loft Dynamics has launched a suite of virtual reality (VR) training features designed to address the global pilot shortage and reduce training-related accidents. At the forefront of these new offerings is LofTWIN, a virtual demonstration mode that captures and digitizes flight instruction from accomplished pilots and instructors associated with various aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This mode allows Loft Dynamics to make expert-level instruction accessible across its cloud-connected simulator network.

LofTWIN is engineered to record and transform expert flight demonstrations into VR-based training experiences that pilots can access throughout the Loft Dynamics simulator fleet. The expanding demonstration catalog includes prominent pilots and instructors such as Glenn White, an experienced EMS pilot and former Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) factory instructor; Gerold Biner, a seasoned rescue pilot in the Himalayas and the Alps; aerobatic helicopter pilot Scott Urschel; and Yann Guérin, head of pilot training at Airbus Helicopters. These VR demonstrations provide pilots with enhanced learning opportunities, helping standardize instruction across the industry.

“With just a push of a button, instructors can record their demo on the VR H125 simulator and instantly share it with their trainees,” said Yann Guérin, Head of Pilot Training at Airbus Helicopters. “Thus, the training is much more consistent and efficient. Instructors are able to demonstrate and assist their trainees. Furthermore, these demos could be shared within the VR H125 instructor community, increasing training standardization and safety.”

The new features also include enhanced simulations, such as Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and whiteout/brownout conditions, that replicate complex flight scenarios and help make training more effective. The NVG module allows pilots to simulate night operations and adjust goggle settings in real-time, while whiteout/brownout conditions simulate environments where visual cues are limited. These simulations provide pilots with a safe platform to practice high-risk maneuvers that are challenging to recreate in actual flight conditions.

Additional enhancements to Loft Dynamics’ simulators include avatar-guided VR instruction that replicates instructor movements in real time, paired with haptic feedback to simulate real-world control. Advanced eye and body tracking captures data during each maneuver, allowing pilots to benchmark their performance and track progress over time. This immersive training environment is aimed at refining essential skills for safe aircraft operation and advancing digital training tools for the next generation of pilots.