U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Train Pilots in Virtual Reality Using Loft Dynamics’ FAA-Qualified Simulator
CBP becomes the first federal law enforcement agency to use VR simulators for aerial training
OKLAHOMA CITY and DÜBENDORF, Switzerland Nov. 13, 2025 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), which operates the world’s largest and most diverse law enforcement aviation fleet, has awarded a contract to Davenport Aviation to provide the Loft Dynamics virtual reality (VR) flight simulator. The simulator is the first VR flight simulator qualified by both the FAA and EASA. CBP will install Loft’s Airbus H125 VR flight simulator at its Oklahoma City training center—marking the first-ever use of VR flight training by a U.S. federal law enforcement agency and reflecting a broader industry shift toward safer, more immersive and more accessible pilot training.
AMO flies more than 240 aircraft, including more than 100 Airbus H125 helicopters, and carries out complex, high-risk missions ranging from drug interdiction and human trafficking prevention to disaster response and 24/7 border surveillance. Its 600-plus pilots operate in fast-changing conditions with little margin for error. Until now, their training has depended entirely on live helicopter flights, which are limited by aircraft and instructor availability, weather and the inherent risk of practicing emergency procedures in the air.
This contract makes CBP the first branch of the Department of Homeland Security to use VR for aerial training. While the agency has previously used virtual reality for ground-based use-of-force exercises, this marks its first deployment of immersive simulation for aviation.
CBP is also the second major U.S. law enforcement agency — following the Los Angeles Police Department — to contract with a company that relies on Loft Dynamics’ VR technology. As some of the country’s most advanced public safety organizations modernize their training programs, it’s clear that virtual reality is no longer experimental, but operationally powerful.
CBP’s use of immersive simulation signals a broader paradigm shift in how aviation and public safety organizations prepare their teams for complex real-world missions.
About Loft Dynamics
Loft Dynamics AG is the global leader in virtual reality (VR) flight training, and the first company with VR simulators qualified by both the FAA and EASA. Trusted by Alaska Airlines, Airbus Helicopters, the Los Angeles Police Department, and more, we serve the full aviation ecosystem—spanning commercial airlines, eVTOLs, and diverse helicopter operators, as well as schools, OEMs, governments, and regulators. Our mission is to make pilot training safer and more accessible, affordable, and scalable than ever before. We produce full-motion VR simulators for helicopters, airlines, and eVTOLs that are ten times smaller and significantly more cost-effective than legacy simulators. We also provide a connected suite of solutions that integrate our simulators worldwide, including at-home training kits, virtual instruction from the world’s top pilots, and AI-driven training intelligence. Loft Dynamics is leading a global paradigm shift in pilot training and powering the next generation of highly skilled pilots. Learn more at LoftDynamics.com.
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