Speakers Loft Fest 2025

Rob Spence is an internationally recognized comedian and entertainer with 40 years of experience performing in four languages across 35 countries. Known for his quirky humor and infectious Aussie charm, Rob has captivated audiences at top festivals, TV shows, and corporate events worldwide. His skills extend beyond comedy, with a focus on using humor to boost creativity and reduce stress in the workplace.

With his dynamic presence and proven ability to engage diverse audiences, Rob is the ideal host to guide Loft Dynamics’ guests through the day, ensuring an unforgettable experience filled with laughter and connection.

Fabi is the creator of the first and only VR pilot training devices with regulatory approval. Before founding Loft Dynamics (formerly VRM Switzerland) in 2016, he spent over 20 years as a technical leader at Cisco Systems, earning the company’s prestigious Pioneer Award for his innovations.

With a background in electrical engineering and a passion for aviation, Fabi built his first VR motion simulator in 2014, combining virtual reality with motion platforms to enhance pilot training. This led to the development of Loft Dynamics’ EASA-qualified VR FTD Level 3 simulator, now used by leading organizations worldwide, including the FAA, Airbus Helicopters, and Air Zermatt.

Fabi holds degrees in Electrical and Software Engineering and an Executive MBA. A licensed fixed-wing pilot, he is currently obtaining his helicopter license. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the Swiss Alps and has climbed all 48 summits exceeding 4000 meters.

Currently Randy Babbitt is the Principal of Babbitt & Associates, LLC. This follows his retirement as Senior Vice President of Labor Relations for Southwest Airlines. Prior to joining Southwest and after confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Randy Babbitt served as the FAA’s sixteenth administrator from June of 2009 through December 2011. Babbitt came to the FAA from Oliver Wyman, an international management consulting firm where he served as a Senior Partner.

Babbitt began his aviation career as a pilot, flying 25 years for Eastern Airlines. Later, he served as President and CEO for US ALPA, the world’s largest professional organization of airline pilots.

He was recognized by Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine with the Laurels Award for outstanding achievement in the Commercial Air Transport and more recently was presented the Aero Club of Washington’s prestigious Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence.

Over the past 25 years, Sky Dayton has founded and built companies that have helped propel the Internet into our everyday lives.

After graduating high school at 16, Sky chose to forgo college to pursue his interests in business and technology. Before age 20, he had co-founded a popular West Hollywood coffee house and a computer graphics agency.

In 1994 at age 23, Sky founded EarthLink, which grew to serve millions of consumers and helped usher in the internet revolution. Sky went on to found, co-found, or help build companies with an aggregate market value of over $20 billion. Since 1999, these include JAMDAT Mobile (which went public, then purchased by Electronic Arts in 2005), LowerMyBills (purchased by Experian in 2005), Neopets (purchased by Viacom in 2005), Business.com (purchased by RH Donnelly in 2007), Helio (purchased by Virgin Mobile USA in 2008), Boingo Wireless (founded in 2001, went public in 2011), Ring (purchased by Amazon in 2018), TTR (purchased by Avalara in 2020), Swarm (purchased by SpaceX in 2021), and Joby Aviation (went public in 2021).

Sky was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the University of Southern California, served on the board of the Center for Public Leadership at the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and currently serves on the Parents’ Advisory Board at Stanford University.

Didier Delsalle is an experienced test pilot and former French Air Force fighter and helicopter pilot. He made history in 2005 as the first person to land a helicopter on the summit of Mount Everest.

With over 11,200 flight hours, he has led development and certification programs for light, medium, and heavy helicopters at Airbus Helicopters.

His expertise spans special operations, medevac, search and rescue, and military aviation advancements.

Jenna Gygi is a professional wingsuit pilot and the 2021 World Champion in acrobatic wingsuit skydiving. As the newly elected president of the Swiss Base Association, Jenna has been a key figure in the wingsuit and skydiving community.

She specializes in flying in the mountains and performs stunts for sponsors while coaching aspiring skydivers. Currently working towards her helicopter pilot’s license, Jenna’s expertise and passion for aviation continue to inspire others.

Michael Huerta is a seasoned aviation expert with extensive leadership experience. He served as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2013 to 2018, overseeing airspace modernization and aviation safety initiatives.

Huerta has since advised leading aerospace companies, including Delta Air Lines and Joby Aviation. Now part of Loft Dynamics’ Advisory Board, he supports the company’s mission to enhance pilot training and safety through cutting-edge simulation technology.

Claude Nicollier is Switzerland’s first and only astronaut, a test pilot, and an astrophysicist. Selected as an ESA astronaut in 1978, he trained as a NASA Mission Specialist and flew on four Space Shuttle missions between 1992 and 1999, including two servicing missions for the Hubble Space Telescope. During his last mission, he performed an 8-hour spacewalk to install new equipment on the telescope.

A former Swiss Air Force and airline pilot, Claude also graduated from the Empire Test Pilot’s School in the UK. He has over 1,000 hours in space and extensive experience in both military and civil aviation. Today, he is an honorary professor at EPFL, a member of the Swiss Federal Commission for Space Affairs, and continues to share his expertise in aeronautics and space exploration.

Pasha Saleh is Head of Corporate Development at Alaska Airlines where he leads the airline’s technology investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures, and supports senior leadership in areas of sustainability, operational efficiency, strategy, and emerging technology.

Pasha began his business career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and has served in executive roles across the aerospace industry in organizations ranging from Silicon Valley startups to large OEM’s including Boeing and Beechcraft. Pasha earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with seven type ratings and has over 8,000 hours of flight experience.

David Solar is a highly experienced aviation professional with nearly 25 years in civil aviation. Since 2021, he has served as Head of the General Aviation and Rotorcraft Department at EASA, overseeing certification for a diverse range of aircraft, including business jets, rotorcraft, small aircraft, balloons, and airships.

He began his career at Dassault Aviation in 2001 as a development and certification engineer for the Falcon 7X program before moving into customer support. In 2006, he joined EASA as a Large Transport Aircraft Project Certification Manager, leading major programs such as the Boeing 777F, 787, Airbus A380, Mitsubishi MRJ, and A400M. He later took on leadership roles as Section Manager, Deputy Head of Large Transport Aircraft, and Acting Head of the Rotorcraft Department.

Solar holds engineering degrees from Les Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) and the University Pierre et Marie Curie, as well as an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. His extensive expertise in aircraft certification and regulatory oversight continues to shape the future of aviation safety and innovation.

Romain Trapp is the Executive Vice-President Customer Support & Services for Airbus Helicopters since September 2023. In this role, Romain is a member of the Airbus Helicopters Executive Committee and in charge of driving the Customer Support & Services main business lines: Technical Support, Spares, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), as well as Training and Connected Services.

Romain brings more than 25 years of international and customer-focused experience at Airbus, with positions held in general management, finance and operations in both Europe and North America. He spent the last 15 years in North America for Airbus Helicopters, starting in 2008 as CFO of Airbus Helicopters Inc., then President of Airbus Helicopters Canada in 2013. He became Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer in 2016 before leading the company and the North America Region in 2019.

Romain graduated from France’s Ecole Normale Superieure and earned a master’s degree from the University Paris Pantheon Sorbonne in finance, economics and econometrics. He is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program in California. He is married and has two adult sons.

Simon is an experienced helicopter pilot and flight instructor. He has flown in challenging environments such as the Swiss Alps, the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, and Greenland, giving him a deep understanding of aviation in extreme conditions.

He specializes in mountain, night, and advanced training and is active in sling-load and other commercial flying, effectively bridging theory and practice in training. Simon holds extensive aviation certifications, including CPL and FI ratings in Canada and ATPL and FI MOU ratings in Europe, along with qualifications for multiple helicopter models.

He is also the author of Mountain Flying Handbook, a book that shares pilot-to-pilot knowledge on mountain flying.

Before aviation, he worked in electrical engineering and project management. As an active mountaineer, Alpine Rescue Switzerland member, and paraglider, he continues to engage with the mountains beyond flying.