The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Air Support Division, the largest municipal airborne unit in the US, has become the first law enforcement agency in the country to use virtual reality (VR) for pilot training.

The department has installed a VR flight simulator developed by Loft Dynamics, a leader in flight simulation technology and the only one to be qualified by the FAA and EASA. LAPD will use Loft Dynamics' simulator to enhance the safety, efficiency, realism and accessibility of its training, enabling the crew to practise under highly realistic conditions and prepare for every scenario they may encounter.

“It has been extremely difficult to incorporate mission-based scenarios into our training programme with the realism and frequency necessary for the training to be effective,” reveals Kevin Gallagher, chief pilot for LAPD. “The acquisition of the Loft Dynamics VR simulator and our partnership with its software engineers has solved that problem. The realism of the full-motion platform, combined with the ability to custom-build highly specific police scenarios, is revolutionising the way we train, whether it's inadvertent IIMC entry, low-altitude chases or night vision operations. This technology ensures that in critical moments, our pilots are prepared to execute with precision and confidence, because in aviation, you don't rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.”

LAPD's Loft Dynamics VR simulator, featuring a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and a full-scale replica cockpit of the Airbus Helicopters H125, will be used by the department's 50 pilots for regular training at its heliport. LAPD is implementing a structured, VR-centric training curriculum designed by Gallagher.

As part of the new curriculum, LAPD is collaborating with Loft Dynamics to develop customised scenarios tailored to the unique demands of law enforcement operations. These include high-speed car chase simulations, with adjustable parameters such as suspect vehicle speed and path, and scenarios that integrate the use of the Tyler Special Operations Platform within the virtual cabin.

The department is also leveraging Loft Dynamics' newly released VR demonstration platform, LofTWIN, to expand training capabilities. LofTWIN allows chief pilots and operators to capture and share their scenario- and manoeuvre-based lessons in VR. For LAPD, Gallagher has created VR lessons on critical procedures, covering everything from aerial chases to emergency landings. In these virtual training sessions, the LAPD pilot sits beside Gallagher's full-body avatar in the simulated cockpit, experiencing force feedback from controls and listening to his verbal instruction. In turn, LAPD pilots gain round-the-clock access to a consistent, precise and fully immersive training experience. Additionally, performance tracking features enable pilots to measure and benchmark their progress against Gallagher's expertise and objectives, following evidence-based training best practices.

LAPD is extending its expert training globally with LofTWIN. Using any Loft Dynamics simulator worldwide, pilots and law enforcement agencies can now access LAPD's virtual training lessons. They can train alongside Gallagher in a fully immersive VR environment and evaluate their performance against one of the most experienced aerial law enforcement pilots in the world.

“We are revolutionising pilot training and democratising access to world-class instruction through VR, and our partnership with LAPD is the latest proof point,” remarks Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “LAPD's pioneering adoption of our technology demonstrates how VR can transform localised programmes into global benchmarks for safety and skill development. Together, we're not just setting new standards for law enforcement preparedness but also redefining what's possible for sectors like aerial firefighting, disaster relief and more. This is how we build and scale the next generation of best-in-class pilots.”