Travel and tourism students are flying high without leaving the ground thanks to a £5,000 investment.
Central College Nottingham has installed a replica aircraft cabin interior in a classroom.
Students on the Level 3 aviation course studying on-board passenger operations can now train in a realistic mid-air environment at the Maid Marian Way centre.
Student Simon Pierce, 25, of Mapperley, said: "I work in the hotel industry but want to get onto a cadet scheme to train to become a pilot.
"This course is perfect for getting a broad understanding of the industry I want to go into, while also getting the points I need to get into university.
"There's a great mix of students on the course and the cabin is an amazing learning environment. We also get to go on a residential trip to Turkey which I'm really looking forward to – so we will actually be flying at some point on the course"
Course tutor, Louise Mantle, worked as cabin crew with several well-known airlines on short and long-haul routes during her 20-year career in the industry.
She said: "This is a diverse industry and students can go into a range of jobs after completing the aviation course.
"It is more of a lifestyle rather than just being a job, and there are long hours involved, but there are some fantastic opportunities and benefits – and it's good fun.
"Once you're sat in your seat in the cabin, it's easy to believe you're on a real aircraft. We have all original kit from British Airways which the students use to perform all the roles you'd expect, like the safety demonstration and bringing round the beverage trolley."
Central College Nottingham runs the aviation operations course and a second similar course but with a focus on cabin crew roles.
Both courses take one year to complete and include practical elements.
Some of the equipment used during role play and operational training is from flight companies that are no longer in service.
Stephanie Cox travels from Loughborough to study on the course because she thinks it is so good.
The 17-year-old said: "It takes me an hour and a half each way to travel but I did the Level 2 Travel and Tourism course at Central last year and it was well worth it.
"I've decided I would like to become a cabin crew member as my sister did that, and my grandad was a pilot.
"Perhaps it runs in the family.
"Our tutor is inspiring too as she's worked on all different routes so we get a lot of insights into what the job's really like."
To make it on to the course students are asked for four or more GCSEs at grades A* to D which must include English and maths.
