Loft Dynamics AG, a startup company based out of Switzerland, relies on creating virtual reality (VR) methods for helicopter pilot training. It recently revealed an update about its acquisition of $20 million in funding in its first institutional investment round. With this, the reach of the company has grown into foreign markets, especially in countries having a shortage of pilots, like the USA.
Investors from the United States participated in the round, with some being prominent names such as Craft Ventures, Up Ventures, and Sky Dayton. Alongside the news of the fundraising round, the business also revealed that it would now be branded as Loft Dynamics, having previously been known as VRM Switzerland.
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Loft Dynamics, Fabi Riesen, made a statement saying that having invested a significant amount of time and resources into its growth over the last many years, Loft Dynamics is now prepared to take its place among the world’s leading providers of technological and educational support. This investment comes at the perfect time, as it will allow us to satisfy the ever-increasing market for pilot training complexes and speed up the expansion of the variety of aircraft types that are served by the company.
According to the business, Loft Dynamics is the one and only virtual reality (VR) full-motion simulator that has been approved by a significant aviation administration. This implies that pilots may train using its software package and gain credit as though they are standing in a real aircraft. At this time, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency recognises the Airbus H125 and the Robinson R22 as helicopters that pilots may get credit for.
When equated to more conventional simulators, the virtual reality simulators produced by Loft Dynamics are lighter, more portable, and require less costly repairs. Because they need less equipment, training may also be made safer via their use. Typically comprehensive simulators call for cumbersome equipment, which consists of enormous machines that can be found only in specialist training facilities that have been specifically designed to accommodate them.
Virtual reality, which is capable of generating high-resolution, immersive simulations, was the medium of choice for the engineers at Loft Dynamics as they labored for the previous six years to develop a realistic training alternative utilising VR. They combined it with a dynamic motion platform with six degrees of freedom, a lifesize replica cockpit, and other components to create a system that was around 20 times less expensive. Additionally, this device was 10 times more portable compared to conventional full-motion simulators. The business estimates that this might result in a 60% reduction in training during airtime.
There are already a number of renowned companies using Loft Dynamics for pilot training. These businesses include Mountainflyers, Helitrans Norway, Colorado Highland Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, and Air Zermatt.
As a result of the pandemic, there is a gap in the present flock of pilots, and the business expects that their solution will help bring new pilots into the sector more swiftly and reduce the expenses associated with training pilots more quickly.
Patrick Ky, executive director and chief of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, stated pilot training will soon include virtual reality applications owing to the efforts of Loft Dynamics.
