New Tool For DWC Flight Instructional Staff
The flight instructional staff at Daniel Webster College (DWC),
Nashua, NH, recently implemented a new instructional and learning
tool that's no bigger than a book.
Every flight instructor has been issued a HP Compaq combination
laptop/tablet PC that will be used to access individual
computer-based flight schedules and students records, and to
document training in real-time during a flight lesson.
As EFBs, the computers hold valuable information, documents, and
procedure manuals that can be readily accessed in flight.
"One of the principal steps in this project is to allow us to
further develop and refine Computer-Based Training Systems that we
are implementing in our aviation programs," said DWC Director of
Flight Operations Stephen K. Brown. "Students and instructors will
have ever increasing interactive computer-based training systems
that will incorporate all of the senses, not just the traditional
'reading from a book.'"
"This is just another step in the
modernization program of Daniel Webster's flight operations," he
added.
DWC is also exploring additional items, including electronic
flight charts; electronic lesson notes with electronic diagramming
and video/audio recording; flight data recording and transmission;
complete electronic student records; interactive digital lesson
sheets; interactive manuals and training procedure manuals -- all
very similar to the Electronic Flight Bags currently in use by
numerous commercial airlines.
Some of the airlines currently using or implementing the EFB
include Malaysia Airlines and JetBlue.
"I would view EFBs and connected aircraft technologies as being
one of the biggest catalysts to drive sustainable cost improvement
in aircraft operations, particularly for low cost airlines," said
Steve Hardgrave, co-founder of Aircraft Management Technologies.
"EFB's can enable on-board crew reporting, fuel reconciliation and
rapid integrated aircraft turn around at all bases."
Recently DWC installed MontegoNet kiosks, creating an effective
"one-stop-shop" for its aviation students where they can access
information in a significantly more streamlined and time-efficient
manner.
The EFB and kiosks are just two examples of the modernization of
scheduling, aircraft tracking, safety enhancements, and data
transmission that DWC is implementing.
Daniel Webster College's flight training program (professional
pilot) is approved under the guidelines of federal Aviation
Regulation Parts 141 and 61, and all instructors are Certified
Flight Instructors. DWC's air traffic management major is one of
only 13 academic programs recognized by the FAA as part of its
Collegiate Training Initiative.