Up, Up and Away - Amber Aviation Academy Flight Simulation Experience

Having had a lifelong interest in matters of aviation and space travel, one of the post-graduate qualifications that I have done as a doctor is in the area of aviation medicine, and although I have never had the funds to 'learn to fly' I did enjoy the experience a few years ago (whilst undertaking the Monash University Australian Certificate of Civil Aviation Medicine in order to become a "Designated Aviation Medical Examiner") of having some time in a Boeing 737 simulator associated with Melbourne Airport.

Recently Amber Aviation Academy has been offering $99 vouchers for a flight simulator experience through a number of outlets, and I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to get a feeling of what is involved in piloting a small aircraft (helpful knowledge from a medical assessment perspective).

Amber are based at Essendon Airport in Melbourne (right near the terminal building) and have a single simulator which offers two options - a Virtual Cessna 172 and a Virtual Piper Seminole Twin Engine. I thought I would try both. Now let it be said that flying these contraptions is not as easy as you might think! Not only do you have to use the rocking steering column to keep the 'plane going up or down at the right angle, but also to turn and/or keep the wings level with the horizon, and when you are on the ground there are foot pedals to turn left or right (not the easiest thing to adapt to when you are used to driving a manual car!). There is also a time lag between performing an adjustment and seeing the response, which can easily lead to over-correction if you think nothing is happening. The Piper required tension on the steering column (like fighting an elastic band) to keep it in the correct position! I also found it challenging sitting so close to the screen as the focal length was too close to feel comfortable, even with reading glasses on.

Do not expect a lesson tailored to your individual learning needs - you will only get standardised scenarios which involve takeoffs and landings and flying around a bit. However, the staff were very polite (if uninclined to casual conversation) and the simulation was run by a qualified flying instructor. I would also not recommend booking for two consecutive hours as I did as the amount of intense concentration was too great and I was pretty washed out at the end and not performing at my best. Bearing in mind these limitations, I would still recommend the experience as a taste of flying - it was fun but there would be a lot of serious effort involved if you wanted to progress from this to becoming a competent pilot.