Back in March this year, RMIT University expanded its flight school training to Bendigo, proving more opportunities for students to become industry-ready and qualified pilots. Recently acquired Cessna 172s with glass cockpits are based at the hanger, with RMIT students also having access to the fleet housed at the RAAF base in Point Cook. Some of the current training routes include a range of regional and rural airstrips, including Shepparton, Mildura and even the Riverina in NSW.
RMIT University is actively responding to calls from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which recognises the need for almost 800,000 new pilots over the next two decades – including 250,000 within the Asia-Pacific region alone. Our last blog post focused on the push for gender parity within the aviation industry, and the benefits of opening up and supporting more opportunities for women within pilot roles.
The Bendigo Flight School has also recently installed a new, state-of-the-art flight training simulator – the most advanced within the region. It has been approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority because of its high fidelity and realism, with the standard on par with those used by pilots in the U.S. Airforce.
The senior manager of Flight & Aviation at RMIT University Mike Heffey has said the simulator will be included within the course syllabus.
“They will spend around 30 training sessions in the simulator as part of their accreditation,” he said.
Two RMIT pilots in the flight simulator cockpit
“Most importantly though, it is good for remedial training. If someone is having problems with their technique or handling they can get into the simulator to iron out the problem rather than getting into an expensive aeroplane.”
The flight simulator can be reconfigured to all aircraft types students use within their training, providing an immersive and realistic experience through six screens.
“I don’t know of any other flight school in the region has a simulator on this level of detail… the graphics and inputs into the controls are very realistic.” said Heffey.
Bendigo’s Flight School will welcomed its first group of students last month in July. You can learn more about the flight school here.