Loft Dynamics receives approval from Japanese aviation authority

(CONNECT) Loft Dynamics from Dübendorf has received approval from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) for its virtual reality (VR) simulator for pilot education and training. According to a statement, the simulator for the Airbus H125 TXi helicopters will be operated at Nakanihon's headquarters in Nagoya, Japan. Nakanihon is the largest provider of helicopter services in Japan.

With the approval of the JCAB, Loft Dynamics has received its first operating license in the Asia-Pacific region. The Dübendorf-based company thus not only sees the option of promoting pilot training for helicopters in Japan, but also in the entire region. The JCAB approval is the third after the approvals of the American supervisory authority, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The VR simulator is the first level 7 flight simulator (Flight Training Device, FTD) to be approved in Japan. The simulator allows pilots to train various scenarios and error situations, such as engine failures, tail rotor failures, hydraulic system failures or other damage. Furthermore, various terrain formations or weather situations can be simulated, as well as communication between the crew and a team of technicians.

"Maintaining the highest aviation safety standards and avoiding serious incidents are our core objectives, and Loft Dynamics is a reliable partner in helping us achieve them," said Shigeharu Matsuoka, President of Nakanihon Air, in the press release. "The launch of the first FTD Level 7 VR simulator in Japan is an important milestone. It enables our pilots to train complex, decision-intensive scenarios and rare equipment failures in a safe, controlled environment."

The flight simulator was introduced via the Inter-Craft Corporation, which also negotiated the certification with the JCAB. Sebastien Borel, CEO of Loft Dynamics, is convinced that "the close cooperation with Nakanihon Air, Inter-Craft and the JCAB" will advance pilot training and enable Loft Dynamics "to offer qualified VR helicopter training in Japan for the first time". ce/ww