| 69 T T Kelly Deeks A unique aircraft training simulator Jason Boddy of Greymouth’s Quality Machining has built a unique aircraft training simulator. Quality Machining ENGINEERING Breaking fittingly into a niche market, engineer and pilot Jason Boddy of Greymouth’s Quality Machining has built a unique aircraft training simulator for Wellington Airport Fire Service and is now pricing fire simulators for airports around the country. Before setting up his machine shop in 1997, Jason cut his teeth as a fitter turner working on drill rigs at the Manapouri hydro power station. Going into business for himself, Quality Machining specialized in large computer numerical control machines and high precision wire cutting for the mining industry, with his parts being used throughout New Zealand and exported all over the world. Looking to branch out and find a niche market, Jason combined his passions fore engineering and aviation and started making self-propelled helicopter trollies. This work put him in the eyeline of Wellington Airport Fire Service and when they needed to refurbish the old grain silo used as a simulator, Quality Machining was invited to quote for it. Jason thinks he won this job thanks to the detailed proposal he provided. “While all the other contenders proposed sandblasting it and tidying it up, we told them exactly what we could do, rebuilding it from the ground up with a clear vision for fitting it out,” Jason says. The old tank had been used as a simulator for more than 30 years, and had already lived one lifetime as a grain silo before that. Desperate for attention, the silo was brought to Greymouth and once stripped, Jason and his team could actually poke holes in the steel meaning it was caught just in time. Their brief was to rebuild the simulator so it could be quickly and easily towed, set up, and operated by a single person, as well as looking as realistic as possible. Corrosion on the underside was not repairable, so Quality Machining cut two meters from each end of the silo, taking the good metal from the top and inverting it to replace the rusty bottom. Jason and the team then added a nose and tail, wings, wheels, and a cockpit, and fitted the cabin out with seats, two smoke machines, and a diesel heater. These combined with Wellington Airport Fire Service’s Bullex Attack Digital Fire System provides a very realistic fire simulation with no real fire, and is suitable for a multitude of interesting and difficult training exercises. Wellington Airport Fire Service deputy crew chief Dean Reynolds says the new simulator has exceeded expectations and provided training opportunities and realism that have never been available at Wellington Airport before. Jason and the team are enjoying the precision engineering involved in this type of work and with this project spurring a lot more interest from airport fire crews around New Zealand, Quality Machining is set to grow. While engineers and tradespeople are in short supply throughout the country, Jason says the lifestyle and short commutes on the West Coast attract skilled people. He is also a keen employer of young locals, helping them stay on the Coast. Ph: 03 768 5663 | www.lasergroup.co.nz/m/laser-electrical-greymouth Laser Electrical Greymouth Proud to be associated with Quality Machining • Effluent & irrigation systems • Generators - supply & install • Water usage monitoring systems • Harvest weather stations • Commercial & industrial wiring • For supply & installation of air-conditioning • All general residential electrical wiring & repairs • For all your farming installations & maintenance • Household white ware repairs
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