Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) is taking a bold leap into the future of aviation training with a new investment in Loft Dynamics, a virtual flight simulator firm. The financial terms of the deal, announced on Friday, were not disclosed.
The airline, through its venture capital division, Alaska Star Ventures, is backing the development of a groundbreaking full-motion, extended reality-powered flight simulator tailored for Boeing 737.
The initiative aims to create a highly “immersive” and compact training platform that could transform how pilots are prepared for commercial flight.
Loft Dynamics is currently the only company with VR helicopter simulators approved by both the FAA and EASA.
Their latest collaboration with Alaska will introduce the first hyper-realistic, full-motion 737 simulator built on VR technology.
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Alaska Airlines has always been at the forefront of aviation innovation, said Loft Dynamics CEO Fabi Riesen.
“Now, by investing in the development of full-motion VR simulators, Alaska is once again moving the industry forward,” Riesen added.
The advanced system will feature a 360-degree panoramic 3D view, real-time body tracking, and a motion platform that recreates the physical feedback of flying.
According to Capt. Jeff Severns, managing director of flight operations training at Alaska, the company sees this simulator as a potential game-changer.
It allows for deep training experiences in much smaller spaces and enables more frequent practice sessions. “With the potential of Loft’s hyper-realistic VR simulator, we could be transforming commercial pilot training as we know it today,” he said.
It’s also expected to integrate with Apple’s Vision Pro headset through Loft’s LoftSPATIAL app, increasing accessibility and convenience for trainees.
Pasha Saleh, Alaska Airlines’ director of corporate development, described the investment as a “paradigm shift.”
He emphasized that the technology could improve the quality of pilot training while reducing travel and logistical challenges.
The simulator will eventually be submitted for FAA certification, and in the meantime, Alaska and Loft will work on interim uses to enhance existing training programs.
Price Action: ALK shares are trading lower by 3.24% to $44.45 at last check Friday.
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