A look inside our third annual Loft Fest
What started as an idea years ago has grown into something much bigger: a place where the aviation training community comes together.
Loft Fest has become a moment where partners, customers, pilots, operators, OEMs, and industry leaders gather in one place—at Loft itself—to connect, exchange ideas, and experience what’s shaping the future of training.
Over two days, everything comes together: the people, the technology, and the thinking behind what comes next. This year also marked 10 years of Loft Dynamics, which gave the event a different kind of weight. It wasn’t only about what’s ahead, but also about how far the company and the broader industry have come.
Day 1 — Behind the Scenes
At our headquarters in Dübendorf, the doors opened for something far more hands-on than a typical event. The entire team was there and fully part of the experience, which meant conversations happened naturally—right alongside the work itself.
Guests didn’t just see the technology; they stepped into it. Throughout the day, they explored the latest developments, tested new capabilities, and engaged directly with the systems in a way that felt immediate and practical.
That included trying out the newest LoftSIM and LoftHOME features, flying competitive missions on LoftHUB, and taking part in the traditional Owl Hunt. Many compared their performance across real-world scenarios, experimented with the latest XR headset technologies, and, for the first time, experienced fully immersive multi-crew operations in VR—flying together in a completely new way.
The atmosphere was direct and unfiltered, which made the experience feel real. Just as important, feedback moved in both directions, with the community engaging directly with the people building the technology and shaping what comes next.
Day 2 — Air Force Center
If Day 1 focused on hands-on experience, Day 2 shifted to the bigger picture.
Held at the Air Force Center, Day 2 brought together speakers from across aviation and technology to share where the industry is heading.
Our founder and CTO, Fabi Riesen, reflected on the company’s 10-year journey—from its early vision to where it stands today—before sharing the latest progress across the Loft ecosystem, including LoftSIM, LoftHUB, and LoftHOME, all demonstrated live on stage.
The day’s speakers brought a range of perspectives from across aviation, technology, and operations:
- Fritz Messerli, Head of Safety Flight Operations Division at the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), who opened the day by highlighting the importance of aligning safety, regulation, and innovation
- Glen White, President of EuroSafety International, on moving beyond incremental improvements toward system-level performance
- Jørn Larsen, Founder and CEO of Trifork, on scaling organizations in complex and fast-moving environments
- Michael Tchao, VP of Product Marketing at Apple, on how aviation has evolved from paper-based tools to iPads—and how that same shift is now making training accessible anywhere through LoftHOME”
- Tobias Zumsteg, Owner and CEO of Mountain Flyers, on his journey from precision skydiving to building an aviation company
- Hillary O’Connor Müri, Loft’s Head of Legal, Murielle von Büren, Swiss Air Force helicopter pilot and wing commander, and Gabrielle Ritter, airline pilot, sharing perspectives on building careers in aviation
- Nigel Sergant, Director of Flight Simulator Operations at Alaska Airlines, on the evolution of simulation—and why Alaska Airlines chose Loft as part of its future
- Ton Stam, Founder of E2M Technologies, on the systems enabling advanced motion and immersive simulation
- Kevin Gallagher, Director of Operations at Helinet Aviation and former Chief Pilot of LAPD, on decision-making under pressure, brought to life through a live, high-intensity car chase scenario
Inside Loft — A Closer Look at Today and What’s Next
Alongside the main program, guests joined breakout sessions that offered a closer look at Loft—both today and what’s ahead.
One session focused on the company as it operates today, highlighting the team, the technology, and the work happening behind the scenes. The other looked forward, including Loft’s future move to Innovation Park Zurich, where we’ll be located closer to Dübendorf Airport as we continue building the next chapter of aviation training.
The Finale
The two days concluded with a gala dinner, the Loft Awards, and a celebration of the people behind the work.
As the formal program wrapped up, the evening shifted into a more relaxed atmosphere, with the Loft Band closing out the night.
Looking Ahead
Loft Fest continues to grow, both in scale and in what it represents for the industry.
At its core, Loft Fest is about bringing people together to experience what’s next in aviation training firsthand.
To everyone who was part of Loft Fest 2026, thank you.
Mark it on your calendars
22–23 April 2027 — we hope to see you at Loft Fest next year. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for details.
