School of Aviation Senior Tutor designs teaching aid for aviation students

Mr Grey, who teaches aircraft systems to Bachelor of Aviation students, has designed and built a mechanical teaching aid that demonstrates the operation of aircraft hydraulic systems - a significant departure from the typical computer screen simulations. The innovative device allows students to operate the controls manually and observe the system’s mechanics in action. The hands-on nature of the tool has been a welcome change for students, making complex systems more tangible and understandable.

"Students enjoy being able to physically interact with the system, especially when it's such an abstract concept. A lot of students struggle to understand the function of components like the accumulator, so I thought, why not build one for them to see how it works in real-time? They can actually observe how the system functions, in one case through a glass cylinder, rather than just seeing diagrams or simulations on a screen."

As well as teaching at Massey, Mr Grey is also a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and holder of a Commercial Pilot’s License. With over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, his career has seen him in various instructional, supervisory and management roles.

Prior to joining the School of Aviation, he served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and also worked as the Deputy Hangar Manager and Maintenance Supervisor for a VIP aircraft operation in Abu Dhabi. He even owns and operates a Cessna 172, performing maintenance duties himself.

The hydraulic system demonstration aid, which was made in Mr Grey's spare time, uses a large amount of personal materials and a few items donated from an old, unserviceable aircraft. It was inspired by a desire to offer a more engaging and tangible learning experience for his students.

"Simulations can be boring. I wanted something practical for students to really get involved with. It's been designed specifically for second-year students and beyond, providing them with an up-close look at hydraulic systems, a crucial aspect of aviation mechanics."

Mr Grey’s mechanical aid has already received positive feedback from students, and he hopes that when the question about the system that comes up in assessments, which often catches students out, comes up again, it will no longer be difficult for students to answer.

Mr Grey is interested in developing other physical teaching aids in the future.

"I plan to extend the training aid later this year by adding a hydraulically-operated model of a large transport aircraft landing gear system to demonstrate how the gear extends and retracts on an aircraft. I grew up building things, so engineering is in my blood—it's second nature for me," he says.