Aviation students get off to a flying start
Want to learn in a real work environment, right across from the entrance to your dream job? For students at Summa Aviation Services, this is a reality.
Right at the entrance, it stands: the Summair, a mock-up of an Airbus 330. Walking in, you'll feel like you're in a real airplane. The seats, aisles, TV screens, carry-on compartments, and kitchenette: everything is exactly like a real Airbus. Even a restroom is present. The Summair is the radiant centerpiece of Summa Aviation Services' classroom, where 197 students attend classes.
Enrichment
Mark Botter, head of Consumers & Real Estate at Eindhoven Airport, and Henk Slagt, member of the Summa College Executive Board, officially opened the building with a ribbon cutting ceremony using social distancing scissors. "The place where Summa now teaches used to be just P1, a parking lot," says Mark Botter. "Initially, I was a bit skeptical about students coming here. What will they be doing? Will they cause any disruption? But it's working out fantastically. The students are an enrichment; they bring extra life and a welcoming atmosphere. We're thrilled that Summa is teaching here."
Needing each other
Many students are gaining work experience at Viggo Group, the aviation services provider at Eindhoven Airport. "It's great that the students are so close," says Hans-Bart Olijhoek, the company's operations director. "We need each other. That's why we're happy that, with so much creativity, we can still offer internships to so many students, despite the pandemic. Because when things return to a more normal state, we'll really need them. I also love that students are constantly in their role because they wear uniforms. And that mock-up is really well done."
Added value
The students are also very enthusiastic about the mock-up, says lecturer Soner Çiftci. "Due to the coronavirus, things are a bit limited now, but students prefer to have as much of their lessons as possible in the airplane. We can simulate real-life situations there. A battery catching fire, someone getting stuck in the toilet, people becoming aggressive, you name it. It's a real added value." Henk Slagt agrees. "An airplane as a classroom, right across from where your dream job is. You can't get a better education as a student; they really shine. If you're part of the campus where you'll be working, you learn faster. This is how education should be."
Video and podcast
Also watch the video below that was made of the opening. And listen to the special podcast which was made during the opening. Featuring, among others, Henk Slagt, Stijn Steenbakkers, Hans-Bart Olijhoek, and Mark Botter. Aviation instructors Mark Dekkers and Soner Çiftci produce a weekly podcast about aviation services. You can find it on Spotify, among other places, under the title " Ready for take-off'.