Griffith Aviation students are helping high school students take to the skies alongside Qantas, Airbus and the Royal Flying Doctor Service with a three-day camp.
The Aviation Flight Camp 2019 April 8-10 will see 24 Year 11 and 12 students take part in a range of activities, connect with student mentors, and hear from industry speakers at locations such as Brisbane Airport, Archerfield Airport and flight procedure labs at Griffith’s Nathan campus.
The camp is hosted by Griffith Aviation students Sarina Hicks andBaha’aEldeenFayoumi.
Camp co-organiserHicks, a second-year Aviation student, said over 100 students from around Queensland applied for a chance to attend the non-live-in camp.
“The whole camp works as a pathway for prospective aviation students,” Hicks said.
“It will demonstrate to these students how you can go from knowing absolutely nothing about aviation to doing really cool things and one day flying planes.”
In 2018 Griffith’s Aviation program celebrated 25 years since its inception. In that time the university has forged firm relationships including with QantasLink and BASAIR, formed the MATES (Mentoring Aviators Through Educational Support) program for students and became part of the Qantas Future Pilot Program.
Camp co-organiserFayoumi, who was a mentor in last year’s Aviation Flight Camp, said the three-day camp would give high school students the idealheadstartin their aviation studies and industry networking.
“It’s about getting exposure to the different areas of aviation — a lot of students just think it’s about flying but it’s only one part of it,” he said.
“At Griffith and at the Aviation Flight Camp you can learn and get skilled in all areas of aviation, from flying, to mechanical engineering, to aviation management.”
Students will get to experience both commercial and military aviation during the camp, with activities including:
- Simulator session in the Griffith Flight Procedures Lab undertaking a virtual flight
- Mentor lunch and presentation by industry pilots
- Tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Service hangar
- Behind the scenes tour of Qantas at the Brisbane Airport
- Drone Quidditch activity
- Airbus Helicopters tour
- Tour with BASAIR at the Archerfield airport
- Free introductory flight with BASAIR for one lucky male and female student
Professor Tim Ryley, Head of the Aviation Discipline, said Griffith had the largest flight-training Bachelor of Aviation program in Australia and the Aviation Flight Camp is a fantastic opportunity for high school students.
“It will give these students a glimpse of the successful student experience and why Griffith Aviation has built such a strong reputation within the Aviation industry, both in Australia and overseas,” Prof Ryley said.