Glass Meets Class In Texas

Add LeTourneau University to the growing list of aeronautical schools adding glass-cockpit technology to their flight training programs. Aero-News has learned the Longview, TX-based university has taken delivery of four Cessna 172s equipped with Garmin G1000 glass panel cockpit instrumentation.

"These airplanes are part of a comprehensive plan to provide the very finest flight training to our students," said Fred Ritchey, dean of the School of Aeronautical Science. "As a leader in aviation training, we believe it is important to integrate new technology into our flight training curriculum. Our graduates will fly aircraft with similar technology throughout their careers. They must have a strong foundation working with technology if they are going to remain competitive in the aviation industry."

Ritchey added the new systems have greater reliability than previous systems, with multiple levels of protection from failures that make the pilot's job easier should a component fail. The units also contain navigation and terrain databases for the entire United States, which enhances the pilot's situational awareness.

'The use of glass cockpits is new in flight training and LETU and is one of the few university programs in the nation using glass cockpits in flight training," said Bruce Chase, instructor. "The technology used in these airplanes is similar to what is found in jet aircraft, making the transition easier for LETU students who will fly jets in their careers."

LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christian university of nearly 4,000 students with academic majors in the aeronautical sciences, business, education, engineering, the liberal arts and sciences. Located in Longview, Texas, LeTourneau University also offers business degrees and teacher certification programs at five education centers in Austin, Bedford, Dallas, Houston and Tyler.

FMI: www.letu.edu/opencms/opencms/_Academics/Aero-Science/