Market Intelligence: North America

CAE Prodigy Officially Launched to the Civil Aviation Market with Air Canada as the Launch Customer

Montreal, Canada – CAE announced that it has begun deployment to customers of its full-flight simulators (FFS) equipped with the new ultra-realistic 3D visual system using gaming technology, the CAE Prodigy Image Generator (IG). Air Canada is the launch customer, with a new CAE Prodigy-equipped Airbus A320 FFS which was put into service at its training facility in Vancouver, Canada. As of now, CAE Prodigy is available on new FFS for all commercial and business aircraft models, and as an upgrade package on already deployed FFS, providing an ultra-realistic and immersive pilot training experience.

CAE is the first leading aviation simulation and training organization to seamlessly integrate a gaming engine into its FFS visual system and achieve level D qualification from Transport Canada, the highest level of qualification for a FFS. CAE achieved this by adapting Epic Games’ Unreal Engine to build a high-end image generator product.

“CAE Prodigy elevates training standards with photorealistic renderings, enhanced moving models, resulting in a more immersive environment. It improves visual simulation fidelity, making training not only more realistic but also more effective. CAE Prodigy supports a range of projection technologies, ensuring flexibility and scalability across different training devices, making it a game changer in the industry,” said CAE’s Chief Technology and Product Officer, Emmanuel Levitte. “This impressive innovation required a unique mix of domain expertise and game engine knowhow, which is why we leveraged the game development expertise of Montreal-based game studio Behaviour Interactive for this project.”

“We’re celebrating the first customer deployment of a new simulator equipped with CAE Prodigy, and we’re proud to have Air Canada as our launch customer for this Canadian innovation, as we have a long tradition of collaboration to introduce new technology to the market,” said Michel Azar-Hmouda, CAE Division President, Commercial Aviation. “But this is only the beginning for CAE Prodigy as we will be deploying this ultra-realistic visual system on other CAE full-flight simulators over the coming months both in new simulators and in update packages for customers.”

“Air Canada has worked in close collaboration with CAE for more than a year to support the introduction of this new flight simulator technology and we are excited to see it come online at our expanded training facility in Vancouver. The new system further strengthens safety by bringing enhanced realism to the simulator environment and improves the already leading training we provide our pilots. It will allow for improved low visibility training, as well as more realistic aircraft lighting in clouds, better sign readability as well as improved contaminate runway simulations. This new technology reinforces Air Canada’s commitment to providing the highest level of training to our pilots for the safety and comfort of our customers and crew,” said Murray Strom, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations and Maintenance at Air Canada.

This deployment at Air Canada marks the official release of CAE Prodigy for the civil aviation market. The next step in the product development roadmap includes new and improved capabilities to support Defense & Security simulator deployments.

For more information on CAE Prodigy’s key features and capabilities, visit https://www.cae.com/prodigy/.

About CAE Civil Aviation Training
CAE – Civil Aviation elevates and advances human performance by providing holistic and immersive training solutions for professionals in business and commercial aviation. Whether for pilots, maintenance technicians, cabin crew or air traffic controllers, we help keep aircraft in the skies with exceptionally trained professionals ready to take on any challenge safely. We operate 70+ facilities on five continents, training over 135,000 business and commercial professionals annually.

About CAE
At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

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Loft Dynamics Unveils VR Instruction from World-Renowned Pilots to Increase Access and Quality of Training, Elevate Safety Standards and Address the Pilot Shortage

  • Virtual Demonstration Mode Enhances Training Quality and Safety at Scale for Aircraft OEMs, Operators and Pilots
  • New VR Simulations for Night Vision and Whiteout/Brownout Conditions Make High-Risk Scenario Training Safe
  • Pilots Gain Personalized Insights to Track Progress, Accelerate Skill Development and Gamify Their Training Experience

Zurich, Switzerland —Loft Dynamics, the global leader in qualified virtual reality (VR) flight simulation training devices (FSTDs), today announced a suite of industry-shaping features to more efficiently and effectively address the global pilot shortage and high rates of training-related accidents. Central to this is LofTWIN, a virtual demonstration mode that digitizes flight instruction from world-renowned pilots and instructors from aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This tool makes their expertise immersive, accessible, and scalable across Loft Dynamics’ global network of simulators. Additionally, Loft Dynamics is introducing new simulations—including Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and Whiteout/Brownout conditions—that make skill- and scenario-based training safer and make simulations more realistic.

The Next-Gen Solution: Immersive Hardware and Instruction

“Our VR FSTDs have made realistic and safe pilot training drastically more accessible and affordable, but hardware alone isn’t enough,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “The industry faces a global pilot shortage, pandemic-related retirements, and rising demand for air transport—issues compounded by the high costs and limited availability of safe yet effective training solutions. LofTWIN addresses these challenges on a new level by making world-class instruction more accessible and scalable. More than just a tool, LofTWIN is a powerful knowledge-sharing platform that captures and disseminates invaluable expertise to improve training for the next generation of exceptional pilots. It’s the first in a series of upcoming software innovations aimed at more comprehensively democratizing the best pilot training resources.” 

Introduction to LofTWIN

LofTWIN records and transforms expert flight instruction into an immersive VR experience for deployment across Loft Dynamics’ cloud-connected simulator fleet. Its ever-expanding catalog of demonstrations features legendary pilots and instructors, including Glenn White, an experienced EMS pilot and former factory instructor at Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters); Gerold Biner, former CEO of Air Zermatt and a rescue pilot in the Himalayas and the Alps; Scott Urschel, one of the world’s few aerobatic helicopter pilots; and Yann Guérin, head of pilot training at Airbus Helicopters. With LofTWIN, pilots build essential skills safely and more efficiently, while OEMs benefit from consistent and accurate demonstrations that lead to safer aircraft operations in real-world flight.

The Pilot and Operator Experience

Pilots and operators choose their scenario-based demonstration through Loft Dynamics’ training device, immersing themselves in a realistic VR cockpit with expert virtual instructors. The instructors’ movements are visually replicated by a full-body avatar that provides real-time guidance, while haptic feedback from the controls enhances the experience. After a LofTWIN demo session, pilots can apply learnings to their simulator training, where advanced eye and body tracking monitors responses during each maneuver. The data captured in these sessions equips pilots with insights to track progress over time and benchmark performance against experts. The gamified approach promotes regular skill development and helps usher in a new generation of digital-native pilots. Additionally, LofTWIN allows operators’ chief pilots and instructors to produce high-quality lessons in a standardized way, educating everyone in the organization more efficiently.

The Aircraft OEM Experience

For aircraft OEMs, now their chief instructors can easily record demonstrations on any Loft Dynamics simulator, allowing them to develop the most relevant and precise instruction and instantly deploy it to any Loft Dynamics training device worldwide. The instructors execute specific maneuvers in the simulator as they usually would, providing detailed commentary through the headset microphone. All audio, visuals, control movements, and force feedback during the session are captured, uploaded, and packaged into a shareable session.

“This technology is an important milestone for us,” said Yann Guérin, Head of Pilot Training at Airbus Helicopters. “LofTWIN lets us create instructor demonstrations. With just a push of a button, instructors can record their demo on the VR H125 simulator and instantly share it with their trainees. Thus, the training is much more consistent and efficient. Instructors are able to demonstrate and assist their trainees. Furthermore, these demos could be shared within the VR H125 instructor community, increasing training standardization and safety.”  

“LofTWIN also allows OEMs to monetize their expertise,” Riesen added. “For instance, Air Zermatt’s VR mountain rescue demo in whiteout conditions could be purchased by operators in Nepal training rescue pilots and uploaded to their Loft sim. This goes beyond just providing access to exceptional instruction; it connects people to the most relevant expertise available, helping us collectively improve pilot skills and safety.” 

Night Operations, Whiteouts and Brownouts Meet VR 

Loft Dynamics continuously develops new simulations of high-risk, complex environments that cannot be safely or accurately replicated in-flight or with other VR tools. This includes the NVG module, which simulates night flight and allows pilots to adjust NVG controls, such as goggle settings, as they would in the real world. Similarly, whiteout and brownout conditions are recreated in VR to elicit realistic physiological responses. Pilots can fine-tune environmental factors like sand and snow levels, enabling them to safely practice maintaining control with minimal visual cues.

About Loft Dynamics
Loft Dynamics AG is the global leader in qualified virtual reality flight simulation training devices (FSTD). It is the first and only VR FSTD qualified by the FAA and EASA. Equipped with a 3D high-resolution panoramic view, dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform, and full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system, our revolutionary VR simulators provide a more immersive, realistic, customizable, and safe training experience. By offering a training solution 10 times smaller and significantly more cost-effective than legacy simulators, we enhance training accessibility and scalability, empowering highly skilled pilots to meet global demand. We serve leading manufacturers, airlines, operators, schools, and organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and Zurich, Switzerland, our team comprises passionate engineers, developers, and aviation experts.

Source: Loft Dynamics
Photo Credit: Loft Dynamics

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Training Aircraft Manufacturer Bye Aerospace Launches Construction of All-Electric eFlyer 2

USA – Bye Aerospace has begun constructing its first all-electric aircraft, the eFlyer 2, marking a key milestone for the company. The project, based at Bye Aerospace’s facility at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Denver, focuses on creating a fully composite structure, validating design specifications, and establishing production protocols for the aircraft.

  • The eFlyer 2, engineered specifically for the aviation training market, is designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability in pilot training.
  • Company officials state that the aircraft’s clean-sheet design, featuring optimized aerodynamics and lightweight composite materials, aims to reduce operating costs by up to 80% and maintenance needs by up to 75%.
  • Serial Number 00001 will undergo extensive aerodynamic testing once assembly is complete, as part of the aircraft’s certification and validation process.

Statements

  • “The outcome will be a full-scale aircraft that will undergo extensive aerodynamic testing,” noted Bye Aerospace officials.

Source: Bye Aerospace

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