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By Cindy Ballance
Editor
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E ver wish you could fly? Now there is an easier
way to get your wings.
The Sky Wings Aviation Centre in Okotoks has recently purchased a flight simulator
to help students get their wings on the ground.
The computer operated simulator is equipped with all the necessary controls, views,
adaptable weather conditions and even sound that makes the student feel like he or
she is actually flying.
In a small black box, the student sits in front of a computer screen and looks down
the runway of virtually any airport in Canada. While just outside, the instructor
sits controlling what weather conditions, altitudes or problems the student must
deal with.
At a touch of a button the instructor can change weather patterns or fail engines
to allow the student hands-on experience in dealing with these various situations
or problems.
Based on a Windows program, the simulator, which has been approved by Transport Canada,
is an excellent procedural training instrument, explained flight instructor Bob Harrity.
'It really teaches them (the students) the basics while they are on the ground,'
he said.
The simulator will allow a student at any level to practice their techniques. It
allows students to fly any type of plane from light twins to single engine aircrafts
and it also can put the pilot in virtually any airport in Canada. Normally for convenience
and familiarity, students practice at the Calgary International Airport.
Approximately 40 students at the flight centre use the simulator, however, instructors
are expecting more students to come on board because of the versatility and low cost
of the simulator.
Harrity explained that it is a lot cheaper to obtain a license, due to the new simulator.
It costs about $60 per hour to use the simulator with an instructor compared to $110
in an aircraft with an instructor.
Harrity explained, however, that real aircraft experience is still a very important
part of the teaching process.
Students will still have a requirement for actual flying. The simulator will simply
enhance the students' overall experience to handle various situations that would
otherwise not be learned, other than in a textbook.
Students are required to use the simulator for half of their instruction time and
fly in an aircraft the other time.
'Aircraft time is the more important of the training aids,' said Harrity.
However, another advantage of the simulator is that if a student is having difficulty,
the instructor can simply hit the freeze button and discuss the problem with the
student.
'(The simulator) is a nice addition (to the flight centre),' said Eden Sustronk,
chief flight instructor at the centre.
Sustronk explained that students can handle more approaches and training on the ground
on the simulator than they can accomplish in a year on an aircraft.
Because of the simulator's versatility and cost effectiveness, the centre is looking
at purchasing a twin in the near future.
'This has opened up a totally different level of flight training,' added Sustronk.
The flight simulator gives its users room to fly without ever leaving the ground.
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