A brand new state-of-the-art flight simulation system was unveiled today propelling the University of Southern Queensland as a leader in the global aviation space.The Airbus A320 type flight simulator, the first of its kind in the world, has landed at the University’s Aviation Education Precinct at the Toowoomba campus
Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said the new system, along with the Boeing 737-800 simulator at Springfield, provided an unrivalled education experience for Aviation students.
“We have committed over a million dollars to develop Aviation and this new simulator shows the level of commitment this University has to offering Aviation students unprecedented opportunities to become airline pilots and managers of the future,” Professor Mackenzie said.
“No other university in the Southern Hemisphere, let alone Australia, provides their students with the opportunity to operate these sorts of modern simulators.”
The University of Southern Queensland is also the only university in the country to house both an Airbus and Boeing simulator and offer simulated flying experience in the first-year of study.
“It simulates the Airbus in every facet and is an ideal learning tool to teach the next generation of pilots to fly a jet and be airline ready,” Professor Mackenzie said.
“High performing students also have the opportunity to join the Qantas Future Pilot Program and undertake flight training at The Qantas Pilot Academy located here in Toowoomba.
“There is simply no better place to do an Aviation degree.”
The Airbus A320 simulator was officially unveiled by Chancellor John Dornbusch and Qantaslink Chief Operating Officer Captain Adrian Young today.
Head of University of Southern Queensland Aviation Professor Paul Bates said the new simulator was an evolution of years of research and development provided by manufacturer PacSim.
“It is the nose and flight deck of an actual Airbus A320 and features state-of-the-art equipment and technology, to recreate an entire flight with both normal and abnormal scenarios, while completing all of the necessary checks and procedures in a real flight,” Professor Bates said.
While most of the world was grounded, Professor Bates said there was no better time to study Aviation.
“This moment in time presents USQ Aviation students with perhaps the greatest opportunities in a very long time,” he said.
“USQ Aviation students who start with us in our next intake will graduate in around three years, at a time when it is most likely that many jobs in Aviation will have re-appeared.
“It is essential for the continued viability of the Aviation industry that the pipeline of young people being educated and trained continues uninterrupted to ensure we have enough people to fill the vacancies that will inevitably be there when they graduate.”
The University of Southern Queensland’s Bachelor of Aviation at Toowoomba and Springfield offers education for a career as a pilot, in the Flight Operations major or to take on a ground-based role via the Aviation Management major.
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