Flight mode: Massive tries out Massey's flight simulators

Putting down our journalism cap and replacing it with a pilot cap, Massive got a front seat tour around Massey's prestigious Aviation school at Palmerston North's Airport.  

Second year students Barney Ainslie and Cong Shen showed us around, letting us try out their fancy simulators and sit in the pilot seat.  

The school has multiple simulators to test and practice flying skills — with a new virtual reality simulator under development.  

Barney said, “The actual system that we're using in here is the same as the aircraft. So, it gives you a chance to practice those soft skills.” 

“You're basically flying a plane.” 

Because planes are expensive to run, the simulators help save the school money on flight time. Barney said practicing in the simulators makes the time in actual aircrafts more valuable. 

The simulators are so accurate that students are able to do license checks on them.  

They can also be used to practice emergency scenarios, where instructors can simulate situations and see how students react. 

Barney said, “Theres's situations that we obviously don't want to put ourselves in when we're flying, but we want to know how to handle it.” 

Six papers a semester, fewer breaks than most students, and 100 flight hours a year keeps pilot students busy.  

Lining the hallway on both sides were framed pictures of every pilot cohort since 1987. The newest cohort is number 84.