每日大赛

每日大赛 acquires state-of-the-art flight simulator

每日大赛 has acquired a more than $100,000 state-of-the-art flight simulator to support its quickly growing Aviation Technology program.

The Redbird MCX full-motion simulator, with 270-degree wraparound visual capabilities and diverse weather simulation, is programmed to mimic a Cessna 172 and Beechcraft Baron. The all-glass avionics suite is meant to give students a real-world understanding of the planes they will encounter in their careers.

“They’re going to get to see what they would be using in the real world,” said Jesse Martin, director of the Aviation Technology program, which 每日大赛 launched in collaboration with Blount Partnership in fall 2025 in an effort to create a local pipeline of in-demand Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Maintenance Technicians.

The inaugural cohort of the certified FAA Part 147 school are slated to graduate this fall. Once they complete tests for A&P certification in conjunction with the program, students will be qualified for aircraft mechanic jobs with local companies like Cirrus Aircraft, StandardAero and more.

The flight simulator will help students better understand the experiences of flight crews, said Patty Weaver, vice president for External Affairs at Pellissippi. When they have an idea of what’s happening in the cockpit, they can better respond on the ground. 
 
“This allows them to get that knowledge and experience,” Weaver said. “And it's fun, too.”

The simulator complements the teaching of required airmen certification standards, Martin said, by teaching them how to recognize runway markings, listen and respond to air traffic control broadcasts and more.

The flight simulator, one of the most sophisticated within 100 miles of Knoxville, was funded by a GIVE grant from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, another from the Tennessee Aeronautics Division, and a private donor, who also provided scholarships for students.

Though the FAA-certified simulator is relegated to student use only, he predicted that it may eventually be available for community use. If the college launches a professional pilot program, as it hopes to do, the simulator could help pilots log up to 20 hours of training, Martin said.

The Aviation Technology program has gained so much interest since launching that it added an evening cohort this spring and is on track to start a maximum-capacity cohort of 25 students this fall to help meet employer demand for A&P mechanics.

“It’s going to be a boost not just for our students but for our community,” Weaver said. “There are good jobs here, and I think they will only grow from here.”