Bucks New University (BNU), whose campus is located at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK, provides students with a wide range of graduate and post-graduate courses, including those related to Aviation Management. BNU has worked for several years with selected Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs) in the UK to provide linked commercial pilot and degree level academic training. On some courses, students undertake formal pilot training either in parallel or either side of the relevant academic training, and can spend extended periods on campus without the opportunity to practice their flying skills.
It is to this end that the University has a requirement to acquire and operate a flight simulator to be used in support of its aviation courses. The simulator is intended primarily to provide students who are already undertaking flying instruction courses at either Private Pilot Licence (PPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) level with the opportunity to practice and develop skills acquired during such training whilst they are with BNU. However, the University also requires being able to use the simulator for other courses and for peripheral purposes such PR/Marketing.
It is envisaged that students will be able to use the new facility to practice such skills as cross-country navigation or instrument flying and to consolidate or refresh the basic flying instruction they have previously received at an EASA/CAA approved Aviation Training Organization (ATO).
Whilst it is not initially envisaged that the University will itself offer formal flight training instruction using the simulator, it is possible that some level of formal pilot training might be offered in the future, and it is therefore a requirement that the device should be compatible with the standards set by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for use in support of formal pilot training courses.
To meet the above, the University has specified that the simulator to be procured must be FNPT II or equivalent capable, ideally having already received such approval at an ATO.
The selected device should be supported by desk-top trainers, either provided by the simulator manufacturer or acquired from a separate source.
The simulator is intended to provide the University with a low-cost entry point into flight simulation and to provide staff with experience in the operation, capabilities and possible integration of simulators in BNU courses. This proposed acquisition is not therefore an ultimate goal and suppliers/manufacturers should consider the possibility that additional or more sophisticated simulators could be required by the University in the future.