FAA Qualification Opens Door for VR Pilot Training

For the first time, FAA-qualified virtual reality training now spans a pilot’s career—from initial lessons through advanced ratings—beginning with the new academic program at Marshall University.

Loft Dynamics announced its Airbus H125 simulator has been qualified at FAA Level 7, the highest fidelity standard for Flight Training Devices. Conducted at Marshall University, the qualification makes it the first U.S. university to integrate an FAA-approved VR flight simulator into its civil aviation curriculum.

“When EASA first qualified our VR simulator in 2021 and then the FAA in 2024, it was a breakthrough for the industry—it proved immersive VR could meet regulatory standards for the first time,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “Level 7 now extends that foundation, and what makes this especially significant is how it’s being applied: embedding FAA-approved VR at the university level as a new blueprint for training pilots. By combining advanced VR simulators with essential aircraft-based instruction, we can improve safety, expand access and set a stronger foundation for pilots from their first lesson through retirement. This milestone shows what’s possible when the entire aviation ecosystem—innovators, schools, regulators and OEMs—comes together to embrace innovation as the way to confront longstanding challenges and raise the standard for pilot training worldwide.”

Marshall University chief of aviation operations Nancy Ritter said the program allows students to complete their FAA-recognized training path entirely in one device, practicing everything from takeoffs and autorotations to sloped landings before entering an aircraft. She added the initiative also strengthens aviation access in Appalachia, where helicopters play a vital role in public safety.

Airbus Helicopters executive Romain Trapp noted that VR training has gained regulatory credibility and is reshaping how future pilots are prepared.

Loft Dynamics’ FAA Level 7 qualification allows pilots to progress through private, commercial, instrument, and airline transport ratings within one device. The program marks a step toward more accessible, scalable training worldwide.