In the quiet village of Boninne (Namur province), a basement has been transformed into an aviation haven, where dreams of flying take off without ever leaving the ground.
Jean-Marc Cauwel and Sébastien Jaumotte, two aviation aficionados employed at the Ineos chemical plant in the nearby town of Jemeppe-sur-Sambre, have turned their passion into a thrilling venture. The two friends have created a fully functional replica cockpit of a Boeing 737-800 in the basement, L'Avenir reports.
The two enthusiasts first came up with the idea to form an aircraft rental company after buying two small aircraft from Czechia in 2017. However, the challenges of Covid-19 and unpredictable weather conditions led them to reconsider their approach. Eventually, they sold one of their aircraft to fund a shared dream: a life-sized Boeing 737-800 simulator.
"In February, I gave Jean-Marc a voucher to test a simulator. He came out of there telling me that we needed one," Jaumotte told L'Avenir.
The sky's the limit
After consulting a specialised company in Seville, the pair placed an order. This summer, a whopping 2.6 tons of material arrived in Boninne, transported in 17 crates. Undeterred by the daunting task, the two friends worked tirelessly to assemble the simulator themselves.
According to the report, the result is nothing short of remarkable. The cockpit, equipped with fully functional tools, is so exact that it could be approved by the FAA for pilot training, but the friends opted against it due to the exorbitant costs. Instead, their ambition is to make the experience accessible to the average person, offering hourly rentals.
"We could also attract simulation enthusiasts or young aspiring pilots who would like to practice with real equipment," Cauwel told L'Avenir.
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To heighten the immersive experience, an expansive curved screen stands before the cockpit. Every detail is meticulously designed to replicate the atmosphere of a real aircraft, with the exception of movement.
"In terms of weather conditions, you can do absolutely whatever you want. We also have the instructor console to generate any hydraulic failure or engine – just like in real life," Cauwel said. Unlike reality, however, the simulator provides ample time to correct errors, giving would-be pilots the possibility to avoid any simulated disasters.
