Uses Federal Grant To Buy Three FTDs

Daniel Webster College (DWC) is moving forward with a major curriculum renewal effort throughout its aviation division. This process has been made possible, in part, by receipt of a $1 million Congressionally designated grant obtained through the efforts of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and the support of the entire New Hampshire Congressional delegation.

The process was further driven by the college's decision to ground the fleet of CAP10s and to sell the Cessna Crusaders; lack of reliability led the college to ground the CAP10 fleet in the winter of 2004. These decisions, coupled with the grant, created the need and opportunity re-imagine the flight program and re-design it for the 21st century.

"As we move forward, the college seeks to build on the strong foundation of leadership it demonstrated during the last two decades of the 20th century, and continue to maintain a leadership position with the finest aviation programs for students graduating into 21st century aviation industry jobs," said Phil Poynor, chair of the aviation division.

A number of exciting additions to the college's aviation infrastructure have already occurred and many more are expected to be put into place over the next eight months.

In flight operations, the college has purchased three Elite iGate digital flight training devices (FTDs). These devices are reconfigurable and interchangeable as a Cessna C-172, Piper Arrow or Piper Seneca and are used in all of the college's single engine, multi-engine and crew courses. The first two iGates arrived in Nashua in January 2004, and the third will be in place in early December 2004. These are a new class of FTD approved by FAA, advanced aviation training devices, and they feature advanced avionics and visual systems that approach some full-flight simulation equipment in richness of detail. Since the iGates are all computer-generated, they are far more reliable than previous mechanical flight training devices and allow much higher schedule reliability than previously possible.

DWC expects to roll out the new flight curriculum by the fall of 2005, with the MBA added in the winter or fall of 2006, and enhancements to air traffic and aviation management programs added throughout the period.  During the coming months the College will consider a variety of changes to the program to maximize its effectiveness while maintaining its affordability and improving deliverability.

FMI: www.dwc.edu