UND Aerospace donates aviation training device to Bismarck Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Monday, December 12, 2011—UND Aerospace donates aviation training device to Bismarck Public Schools

The University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences recently donated a Piper Seminole Flight Training Device (FTD) to Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy. The device is a simulator for learning about the operation of a twin-engine aircraft.

The Bismarck Public School district Career Academy Center is located on the campus of Bismarck State College. The Center enrolls 900 students annually from nine public and private high schools in the area. The Center provides students with quality education in career and technical programs including high-wage, high-demand technical training, academic integration and alignment with post-secondary education. About 90 students are currently attending aviation courses at the Career Academy.

“This device will help us train students in a realistic environment,” said Mike McHugh, a UND Aviation alum and Career Academy instructor. “ The FTD includes all functioning instruments and controls identical to the aircraft and comes with a realistic visual display system.”

“The simulator will fuel the passion of students using it,” said Bruce Smith, dean of the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. “High school programs like this are critical to our future. They give us an opportunity to get young men and women interested in aviation, and they give students the academic foundation they need to succeed in aviation in college.”