Loft Dynamics Raises $60M for VR Pilot Training

Loft Dynamics has raised $24 million in Series B funding, led by The Friedkin Group with participation from Alaska Airlines, Sky Dayton, Craft Ventures, and UP.Partners. This investment brought the company’s total funding to $60 million and will support the expansion of its VR-based training offerings for both helicopter and airline pilots.

The company developed an FAA- and EASA-qualified VR helicopter simulator currently in use by Airbus Helicopters, the Los Angeles Police Department, and Air Greenland. With the new funding, 

Loft Dynamics’ immediate focus is developing a next-generation, cloud-connected training suite—the world’s first fully integrated hardware and software system built to make pilot training safer, more effective, immersive and scalable.

Initial offerings will include existing helicopter simulators and new full-motion Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 VR airliner simulators—up to 12 times smaller and a fraction of the cost of traditional full-flight simulators. Loft’s new airliner simulators will include a multi-crew replica cockpit with all aircraft haptics, body and eye tracking, and AI-powered training intelligence to measure pilot performance and deliver tailored feedback. It will also feature LofTWIN—a virtual demonstration mode that lets instructors record immersive lessons for pilots to replay at any time. These systems will enable pilots to train safely and regularly for any condition, including rare, high-risk scenarios and past aviation tragedies.

To further increase training accessibility, Loft Dynamics is also developing a spatial computing–powered home training kit, allowing pilots to review sessions, access immersive content, and train remotely—from the base or their living room.

“Pilot training hasn’t kept pace with the rest of aviation,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “We’re still sending trainees across the country to sit in $10-$20 million, warehouse-sized domes—technology that hasn’t evolved in decades. In an era of pilot shortages and increasing air mobility, that’s simply no longer sustainable. We’re building a new standard—one that’s far more realistic and accessible. High-quality, regular training leads to better pilots. And better pilots mean safer skies.”

As part of the deal, Dan Friedkin, chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, will join Loft Dynamics’ board of directors.