FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom — Loft Dynamics has unveiled the world’s first Airbus H145 Multi-Pilot VR Simulator, introducing immersive multi-crew virtual reality training for one of the world’s most widely operated helicopter types. The system is now commercially available to operators and training organizations worldwide.
Babcock France, the country’s largest helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operator, is among the first customers to commit to the platform, signing a letter of intent at the Farnborough International Airshow for the planned deployment of France’s first H145 VR simulator.
The simulator was developed in close collaboration with Airbus Helicopters and enables pilots and technical crew members to train together in a shared virtual environment for normal, abnormal and emergency procedures. It uses aircraft flight dynamics, systems data and software provided directly by Airbus Helicopters and was validated throughout development by Airbus test pilots.
Sebastien Borel, CEO of Loft Dynamics, said: "The aviation industry faces a growing mismatch: demand for highly trained crews is rising, but access to advanced helicopter simulation remains limited. The H145 supports a large global community flying some of aviation’s most demanding missions, yet operators have never had a way to train entire crews together in virtual reality. Our H145 Multi-Pilot VR Simulator changes that by making realistic, aircraft-specific multi-crew training accessible enough to become a regular part of how pilots and crews build proficiency."
Romain Trapp, Executive Vice President Customer Support and Services at Airbus Helicopters, said: "The H145 multi-pilot VR simulator is a game-changer for operational safety. By bringing advanced, accessible training directly to the doorstep of major operators like Babcock, it allows crews to train together frequently and with total precision."
The simulator combines a six-degrees-of-freedom full-motion platform, a virtual full-scale cockpit and a 360-degree field of view. It supports initial type ratings, multi-crew cooperation, instrument flight training, recurrent training and mission rehearsal, while allowing operators to practice scenarios that would be difficult, expensive or impractical to perform in an aircraft.
Babcock France plans to integrate the simulator into its H145 training program with a focus on HEMS and search-and-rescue missions. The company also intends to make simulator time available to other H145 operators and pilots in France and neighboring countries, helping address the regional shortage of H145 simulator capacity.
Pierre Basquin, Chief Executive Aviation and CEO of Babcock France, said: "Loft Dynamics’ H145 Multi-Pilot VR Simulator will significantly enhance our training capabilities by enabling more frequent, realistic and collaborative training for pilots and technical crew members. It will strengthen operational readiness, support the highest standards of safety and performance, and expand access to advanced H145 training for operators across France and the region."
Babcock France currently operates Airbus H145 helicopters from 21 HEMS bases across the country. Its fleet performs more than 11,000 emergency medical missions annually and includes more than 60 pilots qualified on the H145.
About Loft Dynamics : Loft Dynamics AG is a Swiss developer of virtual reality pilot training systems and the only company whose VR flight simulators have received qualification from the FAA, EASA and JCAB. Its full-motion simulators are used by airlines, helicopter operators, OEMs, government agencies and training organizations worldwide.
About Babcock France : Babcock France is part of Babcock International Group and provides aviation services for emergency medical operations, military training and government customers. The company is France’s largest HEMS helicopter operator, conducting more than 11,000 emergency medical missions each year from 21 operational bases.
