DSU gets $1M grant for groundbreaking flight simulator
Students from the DSU Ag Aviation Program had a chance to meet with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith during her recent visit to Cleveland. Hyde-Smith assisted in the procurement of the grant for their program. Pictured (l to r) are Jesse Hughes, Alex Allstun, Bethany Rayburn, Drew Rowsey, Senator Cindy Hyde Smith, Morgan Cotton, Workforce Director at South Delta Planning and Development District Mitzi Woods, Program Coordinator Sheila Millican, Callie Rodriquez, Ethan Gremillion, Lawson Howard and Zack Mitchell.
Delta State University (DSU) recently announced the awarding of a $1,000,000 federal grant to its Commercial Aviation Department for the purchase of an agricultural and aerial firefighting flight simulator. The innovative Air Tractor 802 flight simulator will be the first of its kind and will support DSU’s Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway (AAOCP) program, providing training for future aerial applicators and firefighters.
The simulator, designed to meet advanced specifications, will provide high-fidelity, scenario-based training. The equipment is expected to significantly enhance the educational experience, allowing students to gain practical skills in aerial application techniques used in agriculture and firefighting. Students will engage in advanced training designed to replicate real-world conditions, honing their skills in precision aerial applications, which are vital for effective crop management and firefighting operations, and, above all, will save pilot lives by increasing their readiness for dangerous flying.
The cost for the development and purchase for the state-of-the-art simulator was funded by state and federal funds. The simulator will allow students to immerse themselves in high-quality training scenarios without the costs and risks associated with actual flight hours. Additionally, Delta State will allocate $60,000 annually toward a contractual agreement for simulator maintenance, repairs and operational training.
No additional grant-funded personnel will be required to manage the simulator, as current Delta State faculty and staff will oversee its use and maintenance. The training capabilities of the simulator will be available to both faculty and students within the AAOCP program, further elevating Delta State’s commitment to providing a cutting-edge aviation education.
“This grant is precedent setting,” said Major Allen Williams, who serves as chair of the commercial aviation department. “For us to be able to continue to grow our ag training program, it’s going to give us an opportunity to increase the depth of knowledge for our students. It will give us the opportunity also to develop some streams where we can start off with some recurring training for the ag industry across the country because of the uniqueness and the capacity for this simulator.”
The university anticipates that the new simulator will be fully operational within the next two years. Upon its installation, Delta State will be able to increase its profile as a hub for high-level aviation training, with the intent of drawing students from across the nation.
Interim Dean of the College of Business and Aviation Dr. Tomeka Harbin said, “I am thrilled that we have been allocated congressional funds to purchase the Agricultural and Firefighting Airplane Simulator. These resources are vital in helping us achieve our mission of being the premiere academic aviation institution in the state.”
“The opportunities in this industry are real, and our students can graduate with a skill set that is very much in demand around the country,” said Aerial Applicator Program Coordinator Sheila Millican.
