Flight simulator helps local program

ANCHORAGE — Students in the Talkeetna Build-A-Plane program have a new tool for hands-on learning, thanks to a partnership between the Medallion Foundation and the Northern Susitna Institute.

“We are excited that the Talkeetna aviation community is interested in flight safety and add additional support for the Build-A-Plane program there,” said Jerry Rock, executive director of Medallion Foundation Inc.

The simulator is located in the Northern Susitna Institute’s building on Talkeetna Spur Road and is available for use by licensed pilots, student pilots or students who are accompanied by a pilot or with a certified flight instructor.

“We’re happy to strengthen our connection to the Talkeetna aviation community,” commented Joe Page, executive director of Northern Susitna Institute. “We see this as another opportunity to introduce young people to the world of aviation and give veteran pilots a convenient place to hone their skills and log flight time.”

The Medallion Foundation is an aviation safety organization founded in 2001 that operates 16 flight simulators statewide for use by commercial and general aviation pilots. Medallion has simulators in Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Palmer, Soldotna and now Talkeetna.

Northern Susitna Institute is a nonprofit educational organization based in Talkeetna. One of its programs, Talkeetna Build-A-Plane, is a hands-on program designed for students to work with professional pilots and Talkeetna airport mechanics in rebuilding a donated airplane.

For more information, contact northernsusitnainstitute.org and medallionfoundation.org or call 743-8050.