VRM wins first US customer for its virtual reality helicopter flight simulator

Colorado Highland Helicopters (CHH), a family-owned helicopter operator providing helicopter services of all types, emphasising advanced instruction in challenging mountain environments, has selected VRM Switzerland’s H125 trainer for professional flight training. The H125 enables training on a single turbine helicopter. Each trainee gets customised simulations from the familiarisation to a turbine helicopter to demanding scenario-based training, mountain flying, and emergency training.

“CHH has been in contact with VRM Switzerland throughout the development of their product. Since the debut of the prototype and presentation at the Heli-Expo in 2019, I had the opportunity to demo the machine and found it to be profoundly unique. The fidelity of the VR interface and the machine’s response allows for immersion and realism that is unparalleled,” said Brandon Laird, Owner and Chief Pilot of CHH.

VRM Switzerland, with its team of 30 engineers, developers and dedicated aviation experts, develops simulators that give prospective pilots the impression of sitting in a real helicopter during training. With its Robinson R22 Training Solution, the company achieved the world’s first Aviation Authority qualification of a Virtual Reality Training Device from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2021. The company has also developed the VRM SH09 Trainer and the VRM HESLO Trainer.

A wide range of training opportunities
Besides a highly dynamic motion platform that allows the pilot to precisely feel the finest changes in attitude and touchdown, the device uses virtual reality technology to display the pilot’s movements in the VR environment, thus enabling them to operate the cockpit. A numerical simulation enables the realistic representation of flight behaviour. and In addition, a unique built-in flight assistance system that supports the flight instructor in guiding student pilots through basic manoeuvres enables training to obtain a private pilot’s licence. The software is optimized for VR glasses, providing the pilot same visual representations as in the real helicopter.

(Press release/RAN)