Alaska Airlines Invests in Loft Dynamics for Boeing 737 Full-Motion VR Flight Simulator
Alaska Airlines has announced an undisclosed investment in Loft Dynamics, a company specializing in virtual flight training. This investment will support the development of the first full-motion Boeing 737 virtual reality (VR) simulator, utilizing extended reality (XR) technology. The hyper-realistic VR simulator aims to enhance Alaska Airlines’ training program for Boeing 737 pilots.
The investment was made through Alaska Star Ventures, the airline’s corporate venture capital division. Apart from financial support, Alaska Airlines will also provide expertise from its flight operations training department to aid Loft Dynamics in the development of the Boeing 737 full-motion VR flight simulator. Once completed and approved, the simulator will be installed at various Alaska bases for pilot training.
The new simulator will feature a six-degrees-of-freedom full-motion platform, a 360-degree panoramic 3D view, advanced full-body pose tracking, customizable training scenarios, and a compact design that occupies minimal space. The integration of the LoftSPATIAL app for Apple Vision Pro will allow pilots to train using spatial computing technology.
Alaska Airlines and Loft Dynamics envision transforming commercial pilot training with this hyper-realistic VR simulator. The completed Boeing 737 VR simulator is planned to be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval in the coming years. In the meantime, the companies will explore opportunities to enhance pilot training beyond current FAA requirements.
This investment demonstrates Alaska Airlines’ commitment to advancing aviation technologies and improving pilot training methods. With a history of innovation in the aviation industry, Alaska Airlines continues to pioneer new advancements through strategic partnerships and investments like this one.
Source
Photo credit www.airport-technology.com
