Solo student takes off with simulator help
10 March 2004
Aviation student, Andrew Lowe who took his first solo flight early thanks to advanced training technology.
Kangan Batman TAFE first year aviation student, Andrew Lowe has taken his first solo flight just two weeks into his flying training program with a little over three hours of actual flying experience.
However, before taking to the air, Andrew, 18, had undertaken two weeks of solid theory training including Basic Aeronautical Knowledge, the Air Legislation Exam, six hours on the Hawker Pilot Trainer and Flight Simulator 2004 then just over three hours of flying with an instructor.
Taking control of an aircraft for the very first time, and being sent solo is the highest compliment a student can receive from their instructor.
Andrew flew from Essendon airport, with his instructor, to Bacchus Marsh then after a few circuits of the airport, landed and took off for a solo circuit around the airport.
While Andrew says he was initially nervous about the solo flight, once he was in the air on his own he felt great. Coming from a family of pilots and flight trainers Andrew is no stranger to air flight and plans to work for Qantas one day.
Until then he is concentrating on completing the two-year Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Professional Pilot) course then finding employment to increase his flying experience up to around 1,500 hours
Gregory Free, Flight Training co-ordinator from Aviation, Engineering and Electronics , says Andrew’s early flight experience was no doubt due to the use of modern training aids such as Flight Simulator 2004 and the Hawker Pilot Trainer simulator. “That combined with competent instruction means we can dramatically reduce the amount of time in the actual aircraft.”
“We have a unique training system in place with the simulator which prepares students very well for actual in-the-air flying,” said Gregory. Kangan Batman TAFE also partner up with Interair, a flying school, to deliver the practical component of the course.
Kangan Batman TAFE’s Aeorspace Industry Training Centre is the largest purpose-built training centre in Victoria with state-of-the-art training facilities. The Cessna 172 aircraft that is used in Flight Simulator 2004 has a superb flight model, incorporates the unique KBT livery, with enhanced sound effects, which was developed for the institute by RealAir Simulations. The Cessna 172 aircraft performs and behaves like the real thing, including side-slips up to 40 degrees and is spinable.
Kangan Batman TAFE offers four training areas including Avionics (electrical, instrument and radio); Mechanical and Structural; Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Professional Pilot) and Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Aerospace).
The department is experiencing a 150% increase over last year with 10 first years, eight second years and eight young people doing the secondary school program.
Course information:
Contact the Customer Service Centre on (03) 9279 2555 for further information on courses or browse through the study options section of the website.
