“In the world of rotorcraft, few names carry as much respect, trust, and deep-rooted experience as Scott Urschel,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “A lifelong aviator and revered expert in helicopter training, flight testing, and aircraft operations, Scott has spent decades helping pilots—and the helicopters they fly—reach their full potential.
Today, we’re proud to share that he’s joining forces with us to usher in a safer, more immersive, and more accessible era of pilot training across North America. This partnership is about more than expanding our reach—it’s about rethinking how helicopter pilots train: moving away from infrequent, high-risk, and resource-heavy methods, and toward a model that’s realistic, repeatable, and radically safer. That’s where VR changes everything.”
A Personal Mission to Make Flying Safer
Scott’s commitment to pilot safety is deeply personal. As the founder and CEO of Pylon Aviation, an authorized Airbus Helicopters distributor serving the U.S. and Canada, he has been a trusted advisor and operator in rotorcraft aviation for over 35 years. He’s accumulated more than 11,000 flight hours and flown over 35 different helicopter models and 100 fixed-wing aircraft—from modern jets to WWII-era warbirds. His depth of operational and technical experience is rare in the industry.
Scott has also contributed to a wide range of training, testing, and certification programs—including high-speed envelope expansions and NVG certifications—and is one of only four FAA-licensed helicopter aerobatic pilots worldwide. He’s a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and regularly performs at major airshows, including EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Having spent decades flying, instructing, certifying, and advising, Scott has seen just how high the stakes are in rotorcraft operations. Helicopter flying remains one of the most dangerous forms of aviation, with accident rates nearly 50 times higher than those of commercial airliners. Even more telling: nearly one-third of all helicopter accidents occur during training or checking.
And yet, training methods have remained largely unchanged for decades—reliant on limited access to full-flight simulators or costly, weather-dependent aircraft time. Many of the most critical maneuvers—like autorotations—are simply too risky to practice in the air. The result: too many pilots are underprepared for the scenarios that matter most.
Without a doubt, this technology sets a new standard in aviation training and will shape the next generation of pilots to be the most prepared, most skilled, and safest we’ve ever seen.
That’s where Loft Dynamics comes in. Our VR simulators give pilots the ability to train for high-risk, mission-critical maneuvers in a fully immersive environment—without needing an aircraft, relying on weather, or traveling to full-flight simulator centers. They’re also the first and only VR simulators qualified by both the FAA and EASA, validating their use in formal training and checking.
What stood out to Scott wasn’t just the certifications—it was the shift in what’s possible. He saw how VR enables pilots to train more frequently, with greater realism and less risk. That’s what made him an early believer—and now, an official advocate—of our next-gen approach to pilot training.
“For as long as I’ve been flying, we’ve accepted that some of the most dangerous maneuvers just can’t be trained safely. We’ve worked around that reality, but it’s come at a cost,” said Scott Urschel. “What Loft Dynamics has built changes that equation. For the first time, pilots can train for the real-world scenarios that matter most—safely, repeatedly, and with total immersion. It’s the most meaningful advancement I’ve seen in pilot training in decades—and it’s finally available at scale. I’ve used the sim myself and even trained my son on it—and watching him grow confident and capable in that environment was one of the most rewarding moments of my career. Without a doubt, this technology sets a new standard in aviation training and will shape the next generation of pilots to be the most prepared, most skilled, and safest we’ve ever seen. I’m proud to stand behind Loft’s VR solutions and to help bring them to more operators across North America.”
A Natural Alignment of Values
Scott has spent his career doing more than just flying—he’s helped operators select and equip the right aircraft for their mission, built long-term trust with the operators he serves, led certification programs, and mentored pilots across a wide range of platforms. His pilot-first, safety-driven approach aligns perfectly with Loft Dynamics’ mission to cultivate more proficient aviators—whether they’re logging hours for a career or flying for personal passion.
By joining Loft Dynamics as a strategic partner and independent sales agent, Scott will help bring our qualified VR simulators to operators across North America—drawing on his deep relationships and rare blend of technical and operational insight.
The Future of Training Is Here
This isn’t about selling a simulator. It’s about shifting an industry. At Loft Dynamics, we believe safe, immersive, high-frequency training shouldn’t be the exception—it should be the norm. And with Scott’s deep expertise, long-standing relationships, and unwavering commitment to pilot safety, we’re one step closer to making that a reality.
We’re honored to have Scott Urschel on board—not just as a partner, but as a fellow advocate for a safer future in aviation.
