Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Virtual And Actual Piper Malibu Training

By Linda Ruiz


One thing about modern technology: you can find out about anything, even if all you have is a tiny clue. Take Piper Malibu training, for instance. Some of us are old enough that the name 'Piper' brings a hazy idea of aircraft. Others may think Malibu refers to Florida, where sandpipers may live on the beach, and suppose that these little birds can be trained for some useful task.

However, a little time spent surfing the net and you have the story: the Piper Cub was the first low-cost, easy-to-operate, private airplane mass-produced for the general public. Actually, the company history is pretty interesting, mainly from the 'It's not easy to succeed in business' angle. The company endured the loss of one of its founders in a plane crash, several mega-wrangles of top executives, what appears to be hostile take-overs more than once, a war, a flood, bankruptcy, and finally foreign ownership.

Piper airplanes continue to be manufactured in Vero Beach, Florida. Orlando is the place to go for simulator training. This program is limited to two pilots at a time, with an instructor that stays the course. The 'classroom' is a fuselage of the plane that the pilot will fly, so everything learned is relevant. The course covers things like take-off procedures, approach and holding pattern protocol, and landings.

In-plane training is also available, some of it manufacturer-approved. There are probably rules about how many hours need to be spent flying with an instructor and then solo before a license is granted. Again, this information is on the internet.

The pictures online show truly beautiful little planes slicing through the air. Their claim to fame, however, is founded on more than good looks. They have a relatively low initial cost, offer great fuel economy, and are easy to operate and maintain. (There are courses in aircraft maintenance, too, if you'd rather stay on the ground.) The Malibu is a single-engine model, like several others in the product line. Technical information on turbo-charging, horsepower, and other details are posted for those who are mechanically-minded.

The irony is that those of us old enough to know about the Cub probably are turned off when simulator training is mentioned. However, all the kids who grew up with computer games probably can't wait to try it. Customer representatives for the training centers can explain how and why a simulator is a valuable tool.

This question might be best answered by a customer service rep at the training center. Florida, Arizona, and Texas appear to be the main centers, but one would suppose that many smaller airports have instructors on staff. Again, you can start on the internet, get some contact information, and make inquiries.

The Malibu, the Meridian, the Mirage, the Matrix. These are only some of the Piper aircraft, which total almost 150,000 since the first Cub in 1927. An impressive number of those planes are still flying. If you think piloting a small plane high above the earth (the Mirage has a pressurized cabin) sounds like fun, check out this enduring company and its new models. Then see what's involved in the training programs offered and approved by the factory.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment