Aviation simulator lets students fly from every U.S. airport

Peering out the window on their approach into Des Moines International Airport, students enrolled in Central Campus’ pilot training class spot local landmarks such as Gray’s Lake, 801 Grand and Highway 141.

Back safe on the ground, the future flying aces open the door and walk out into the Des Moines school district’s aviation complex.

The never even left the building.

The Central Campus program’s new FAA approved simulator lets students fly any type of commercial aircraft and practice taking off and landing from every airport in the United States.

A series of screens wrap around a mock cockpit, giving views out the front and side windows as the pilot sits behind a control panel.

“I can make snow, rain, a low ceiling to look like clouds. … I can make the engine quit, run out of fuel — a plethora of emergencies for the students to deal with safely without getting hurt,” instructor Tim Harmer said. “This is as realistic as it gets. The controls are just like a real aircraft. It acts like a real aircraft with sound, propeller movement, dip of the nose, etc.”

The only thing that’s missing is a hydraulic lift that can yaw and pitch the simulator as the pilot turns the pedals and yoke. But that’s next, Hammer said. He’s looking for corporate sponsors to pay for just such a device.

Aviation technology and pilot training are just two of the more than 50 courses available to students at Central Campus. They’re part of the school’s transportation program, which also includes auto collision repair and automotive technology.

Based out of a hangar located next to McCombs Middle School on the city’s far south side, the aviation technology program has five aircraft, including a Cessna airplane, a Lear Jet and an Apache helicopter. It moved to the facility last year from its previous home at the Des Moines airport.

Even with those high dollar toys, the star of the program is the state-of-the-art flight simulator that lets students log up to 72 flight hours that they can use toward a pilot license.

“This program is the best-kept secret in Des Moines,” Harmer said. “In addition to their high school credits, students (in the pilot class) can earn up to 24 college credits, up to 72 hours in the flight simulator/training device, and potentially save $7,000 of education expenses.”

Students in the aviation mechanics and airframe classes can earn up to 42 college credits.

Overall a student can earn three-fourths of an associate’s degree by the time he or she graduates high school. The program also has a partnership with Indian Hills Community College that allows students from the Ottumwa school to complete classes in Des Moines.

“We have companies calling us up all the time looking for (airline) mechanics,” Harmer said.

Ben Baum, 19, of Ankeny graduated from program last year. He credits the experience he received as a high school student for helping him land a job at Exec One Aviation at the Ankeny airport.

“The kids here train for three years to meet the FAA guidelines to be able to test for their mechanics license,” said Rick McDonald, who teaches the general aviation mechanics and airframe classes.

First-year students start with maintenance publications and FAA regulations, basic physics and the laws of flight. They also learn basic electricity, materials and aircraft weight and balance. Second-year students learn aircraft structures, flight control rigging and welding.

By the third year, students are operating and repairing landing gear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, communication and navigation systems as well as cabin pressure controls.

“We emulate what the students would do in the real world,” McDonald said. “Right now we are taking the wing off a Cessna 172 and putting it back on to standard.”

There are 92 students enrolled in aviation maintenance classes this spring. There are 10 students in the introduction to piloting class.

McDonald and Harmer estimate that 90 percent of their students will go into an aviation- or military-related career after graduation.

About this series

The Des Moines Register is taking a look at some of the unique courses — from auto body repair to robotics — offered at Des Moines Central Campus. The school draws 1,500 students from 29 central Iowa school districts who take classes in 30 career and technical areas and 35 advanced courses not available at most traditional high schools.