U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Train Pilots in Virtual Reality Using Loft Dynamics’ FAA-Qualified Simulator

USA – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), which operates the largest and most varied law-enforcement aviation fleet in the world, has awarded Davenport Aviation a contract to deliver a Loft Dynamics VR flight simulator for installation at CBP’s Oklahoma City training center. The FAA- and EASA-qualified Airbus H125 VR simulator will become the first virtual-reality-based aviation training device used by a U.S. federal law-enforcement agency, marking a notable development in federal pilot training capability.

• AMO operates more than 240 aircraft, including over 100 Airbus H125 helicopters used for drug interdiction, border security, disaster response, and other high-risk missions that demand advanced pilot proficiency.

• Until now, AMO pilot training has relied exclusively on live helicopter operations, which can be constrained by aircraft scheduling, weather, and the inherent risks tied to airborne emergency procedure practice.

• CBP becomes the first Department of Homeland Security component to adopt VR aviation training and the second major U.S. law-enforcement organization to implement a system supported by Loft Dynamics technology, following the Los Angeles Police Department.

Statement

• Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics “We’re excited to partner with CBP to build a VR training program that mirrors their real-world operations—down to the most complex scenarios. That might mean a nighttime drug trafficking pursuit at 50 feet and 10 knots with suspects fleeing on foot. Or an engine failure just after takeoff. Pilots will rehearse those moments with precision—from their home base, safely, and on demand. Because when they’re seconds away from a life-saving decision, they shouldn’t be relying on a checkride from six months ago—they should be drawing on muscle memory built just days earlier. This is the new standard—not just for law enforcement, but for the entire aviation industry: training that’s immersive, mission-specific, endlessly repeatable, and accessible anytime, anywhere. We’re proud to see another major government agency embrace that future and help lead the shift.” 

Source: Loft Dynamics