Plane sailing for Jane Hutt AM as she tries Cardiff and Vale College’s new flight simulator

Vale of Glamorgan AM Jane Hutt visited Cardiff and Vale College today (19 May) to try out the College’s new flight simulator – the first of its kind in Wales.

The simulator is based in the College’s renowned International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) at Cardiff Airport. It is the fully Civil Aviation Authority accredited flight simulator in Wales.

With the guidance of Aerospace Lecturer Alan Higman, Jane took the controls for a very smooth flight from London’s City Airport to Heathrow. Level 3 Aircraft Engineering students Ian Lewis and Martha Ormerod then showed her the College’s two other, smaller simulators.

Jane Hutt AM said: “This is a fantastic new resource. Not only will it support the great work that takes place at CAVC but it will also directly support the projected growth in the aviation industry and the worldwide shortage of pilots.”

Funded by £250,000 grant from the Welsh Government, the simulator supports Cardiff and Vale College’s plan to become the first facility in Wales to offer the full range of aviation courses. As the simulator is fully CAA accredited, it can help towards gaining a private pilots’ license and the College is working with industry and universities to deliver a Pilot Training degree.

Cardiff and Vale College Principal Kay Martin said: “We are hugely grateful to the Welsh Government for supporting our plans for growth and it has been great to show Jane Hutt AM the fruits of that investment – the first CAA-accredited flight simulator in Wales. This simulator will be of huge to benefit not only to our existing Aero Engineering students, but also our Airline and Airport Management learners.

“As we expand into offering training to pilots, this simulator will save those students thousands of pounds. Local flying schools have already expressed an interest in supporting and using our flight simulator – which will help boost the Aero Enterprise Zone of which we are a part.”

Based at the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan’s Aero Enterprise Zone, a move to offer aviation at ICAT as well as aircraft engineering would support the local airport and provide a wide range of learners with the skills and knowledge required to work in a worldwide industry.