Loft Dynamics raises $20M to tackle pilot shortage with VR training - TechCrunch

Loft Dynamics, a Swiss startup creating virtual world (VR) simulation exertion for chopper pilots, has raised $20 million successful backing from U.S. task superior (VC) firms including David Sacks’ Craft Ventures, Sky Dayton, and Up Ventures.

Alongside the funding, the institution is besides formally announcing its name-change from VRM Switzerland.

Founded retired of Zurich successful 2016, Loft Dynamics has developed a slew of simulators for immoderate of the astir communal helicopters, including the azygous turbine Airbus H125. Through this, budding pilots tin prosecute successful realistic grooming scenarios including night-time flying and carryi retired proficiency checks, with force-feedback to simulate strategy failures and different issues.

On apical of that, pilots tin besides present person grooming credits for clip spent successful a simulator, aft the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) authorized Loft Dynamics’ Airbus H125 formation grooming instrumentality back successful May.

The institution says that its level goes immoderate mode toward addressing the planetary aviator shortage, a occupation exacerbated by the pandemic arsenic pilots elected to spell for aboriginal status oregon power careers, arsenic it opens up much grooming opportunities and reduces galore of the costs progressive successful going retired successful a existent helicopter.

Moreover, Loft Dynamics says that due to the fact that its simulators are astir one-tenth of the size of accepted simulators, they are easier to deploy astatine standard without requiring purpose-built facilities.

Other companies are utilizing VR simulation to tackle akin workforce shortage problems oregon different heighten existing grooming programs. VRAI, for example, is processing exertion to support grooming for the offshore upwind industry, portion FundamentalVR recently raised $20 million to assistance bid surgeons done VR.

With different $20 cardinal successful the slope and a caller name, Loft Dynamics is present well-positioned to grow extracurricular of Europe and into the lucrative U.S. market.

“After galore years successful development, we are acceptable to grow Loft Dynamics to go a planetary institution and bring our exertion and grooming solutions to the world,” Loft Dynamics’ cofounder and CEO Fabi Riesen said successful a property release. “This backing comes astatine precisely the close infinitesimal arsenic we volition beryllium capable to conscionable the escalating request for formation schools and accelerate the scope of craft types we support.”