Operator Commits to New Multi-Pilot Simulator

Loft Dynamics has released the Airbus H145 Multi-Pilot VR Simulator, allowing H145 pilots and crews to train together in VR for the first time.

Babcock France, the country's largest HEMS operator, is one of the first operators 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 aviation industry faces a growing mismatch: demand for highly trained crews is rising, but access to advanced helicopter simulation remains limited," said Sebastien Borel, CEO of Loft Dynamics. "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."

Developed with Airbus Helicopters, the simulator enables crews to train together for normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, using flight dynamics, systems data and software from Airbus Helicopters. The system combines a full-motion platform, a virtual cockpit replica and a panoramic field of view, supporting type ratings, multi-crew cooperation, and recurrent training.

Babcock France plans to use the simulator across its H145 training program, focused on mission rehearsal and HEMS and search-and-rescue operations, and intends to make simulator capacity available to operators across France and neighboring countries.

"Our mission is to ensure our crews are fully prepared for the complex and critical operations they perform every day," said Pierre Basquin, Chief Executive Aviation and CEO of Babcock France. "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."

Babcock France operates Airbus H145 helicopters and has more than 60 pilots qualified on the type, completing more than 11,000 missions annually from 21 HEMS bases.