Twenty students from the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) recently got an opportunity to “fly” around Dubai in a full flight simulator.

The exercise allowed students to experience flight simulators that are used for training commercial pilots around the world.

The students were given a tour of the facilities, including viewing the 11 pods at Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT), which comprised the Airbus, Boeing, Gulfstream, Hawker and helicopter simulators. The students were shown the computer control center, where the software engineers maintain the computer programs to enable the simulators to operate.

Flight simulator engineer Melanie Janelle briefed the students on various aspects of the simulator system and the ECFT workplace environment. Students were then given a lively insight into the life of an IT professional by IT specialist and project manager Ghassan Hassan.

The highlight of the trip was flying in the simulator. Students were able to take off, fly virtually around Dubai, viewing graphics of landmarks including Sheikh Zayed Road and Emirates Towers, and then land the aircraft.

Two hundred engineers, aircraft fitters, hydraulic and electronics technicians are involved in building these simulators which have a list price of approximately $ 9-16 million.

The field trip, organised by Dr. Catherine Todd of College of Information Technology (IT) at UOWD was part of the university’s efforts to expose students to their future work environments. - TradeArabia News Service