Babcock France has become one of the first operators to commit to the newly released Airbus H145 multi-pilot VR simulator from Loft Dynamics, having signed a letter of intent at the Farnborough International Airshow.

The HEMS operator plans to use the simulator across its H145 training programme, with a focus on mission rehearsal and specialised HEMS and SAR operations. It also intends to make simulator capacity available to operators and pilots across France and neighbouring countries, helping address the growing shortage of H145 simulator access in the region.

“Our mission is to ensure our crews are fully prepared for the complex and critical operations they perform every day,” says CEO and chief executive aviation Pierre Basquin. “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. It will strengthen operational readiness, support the highest standards of safety and performance, and expand access to advanced H145 training for operators across France and the region.”

Babcock France operates Airbus H145 helicopters and has more than 60 pilots qualified on the type. From 21 HEMS bases across France, its ambulance-configured helicopter fleet completes more than 11,000 missions annually.

“The aviation industry faces a growing mismatch: demand for highly trained crews is rising, but access to advanced helicopter simulation remains limited,” continues 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. Our H145 multi-pilot VR simulator changes that by making realistic, aircraft-specific multi-crew training accessible enough to become a regular part of how pilots and crews build proficiency. Babcock France’s early commitment carries real weight. It shows that immersive VR is moving beyond an emerging training option and becoming infrastructure that major operators can build into their long-term H145 training strategies.”

“The H145 multi-pilot VR simulator is a game-changer for operational safety,” adds Romain Trapp, executive vice president customer support and services at Airbus Helicopters. “By bringing advanced, accessible training directly to the doorstep of major operators like Babcock, it allows crews to train together frequently and with total precision. We are thrilled to see our partners adopting this immersive technology to enhance crew coordination where it matters most.”

Developed in close collaboration with Airbus Helicopters, the simulator enables pilots and crew members to train together in a shared virtual environment for normal, abnormal and emergency procedures. It is built using flight dynamics, systems data and helicopter software provided directly by Airbus Helicopters and was rigorously tested and validated throughout development by Airbus pilots. The simulator replicates the aircraft’s aerodynamics and performance characteristics, allowing operators to train using the same procedures they follow during flight operations.

The system combines a six-degrees-of-freedom full-motion platform, a virtual, full-scale cockpit replica and a 360-degree panoramic field of view. It also supports repeated training on complex scenarios that would be difficult, costly or impractical to conduct in an aircraft, including licence-related training such as initial type ratings, multi-crew cooperation and instrument training, as well as recurrent training and checking for H145 operators.