A learner’s view from the top

Ever wondered what the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa looks like from a dizzying height of 1,000 feet?

Students from Dubai schools can now get a bird’s eye view of their history and geography course material, as part of a new education programme developed by Seawings, an aerial excursion company.

Flying over some of Dubai’s key landmarks and historic sites, the 40-minute plane ride is one of the most exciting field trips for students in the UAE.

Al Khaleej National School’s Sahel Nowroozi and Roya Marzban were among the first students to take the educational flight along with their schoolmates.

“It was a lot of fun. I never expected Dubai to look so different from the photographs and videos which we have seen in class. The best thing was I could sit next to the pilot,” said Sahel.

For Hessa Salem, an Emirati student at the same school, the trip was a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the leaders who built this country.

“Dubai is positioning itself as a global city and seeing it from the top makes me realise how much hard work has gone into planning the city. I got to see it from a different perspective, one which many people have not experienced yet,” said Hessa.

Environment education expert Peter Milne designed the education programme at Seawings.

“There is so much diversity within the landscape and Dubai’s coastline. It is a very different experience for the students.”

His idea was to give students a better idea of the geography of Dubai and how urbanisation and town-planning shaped the city’s roads, buildings and industries.

“There was a lack of resources to look at the geography of Dubai and this programme is shaped to give students a better idea of their surroundings and the city they study in.”

Each flight can carry a group of nine students on board the amphibious Cessna 208 caravan from the Seawings base in Jebel Ali. Shortly after take-off, students can see the Jebel Ali Port and the Palm Island. With a bird’s eye view of Dubai’s key landmarks, the flight offers students a stunning view of the Burj Khalifa, Shaikh Zayed Road, Deira Creek, Meydan Racecourse, Dry Docks and the Marina.

Dr Nigel Rea, Chief Operating Officer of Seawings said the programme was developed after discussion with teachers and educators at local schools.

“The students are going to enjoy it and we want the experience to add real value to classroom education,” Rea said.

Yasmine Danawy, Vice Principal at Al Khaleej National School was very happy with the feedback from students who took the inaugural flight.

“We wanted students to have another perspective and this programme definitely had the ‘WOW’ factor. It is one of the ways to show them the world has endless possibilities,” she said.

For students like Sahel and Roya, the experience certainly was that.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE