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In a groundbreaking
move, Iowa Lakes Community College has
purchased a Cirrus SR20 airplane, making Iowa
Lakes the first college in the nation to add
one to its fleet.
"We are the first collegiate program in the
United States to purchase the Cirrus for FAA
part 141 flight training," said Ron Duer,
Aviation/Airport Management Program
Co-Coordinator and Chief Flight Instructor.
"This plane was made specifically for Iowa
Lakes."
With the addition of
the Cirrus, aviation students will learn,
hands-on, in a state-of-the-art plane that has
features including an automated flight
director and XM |
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satellite weather on the multi-function
display panel.
The
automated flight director allows students to
program in a flight plan and after they are in
the air at a specific altitude, the program
will take over and fly the plane, just like an
actual airliner.
The plane is fed weather information through
an XM Satellite weather datalink and shows
live weather information, including locations
of lightening strikes.
The plane also has its own parachute. The
Cirrus Airframe Parachute System deploys a
parachute large enough to lower the plane to
the ground when all other landing alternatives
have been exhausted.
The seats are also technologically advanced.
They can absorb 26 times the force of gravity
in the event of an emergency landing.
To fly the days-old plane, Duer had to attend
15 hours of ground school and put in 15 hours
of flight training. Once he met the
requirements, Duer flew the plane to Iowa
Lakes from Duluth, Minn., in a little over two
hours.
"Actual cruise speed for this plane is about
150 knots or 172 mph," said Duer.
The Cirrus is made mostly of fiberglass and
has an all-glass cockpit making it a unique
learning tool for students.
"We will be using the plane for our students
in the instrument phase of their training,"
said Pat Hall, Co-coordinator of the program.
Hall and Duer will be attending the EAA
AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisc., during the last
week of July, where photos and information
about Iowa Lakes' Aviation program and the new
Cirrus will be on display.
"The EAA AirVenture is the major event for
pilots and we are excited to have our aviation
program in attendance," said Dr. Richard
Underbakke, Chief Academic Officer. |
