A horrific and high-profile year for international aviation disasters has not stopped Canberrans spending more time in a cockpit, even if they don't always leave the ground.
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The numbers of hours spent in the air by recreational pilots taking off from the city's airport has increased by about a quarter in 2014 and the Canberra Aero Club had catered for the demand with three new aircraft.
But those who aren't quite ready for the real thing – or want an international flight path – have also flocked to the controls thanks to the Jet Flight Simulator business in Fyshwick.
Owner Amy-Jane Ramsey said the business had doubled its bookings this year, with customers guided by a professional pilot as they take charge of the Boeing 737-based simulator, able to choose from 22,000 airports across the globe.
"Twelve months ago we were averaging bookings of 30 hours a week; six months ago and continuing we are averaging 60-70 hours a week," Ms Ramsey said.
"Usually women are the ones who buy it, for the men who fly it, largely 25-55 year-old men. Although we get some 95-year-olds come in."
Ms Ramsey said while the flights could not count for any licence, about 20 per cent of those through the door were in active training.
Canberra Aviation operations manager Tim Allen said the focus on Canberra rather than Goulburn-based flights had coincided with strong growth, aided by the hiring of a full-time instructor in February.
"So Canberra's hours are up 20-30 per cent this year – that's primarily because we've got more availability – and including the two [cities] I'd still say it's a 20 per cent growth," Mr Allen said.
"Five to six years ago it was a lot of tradies, now it's more public servants and small business owners."
Canberra Aero Club vice-president Norm Jones said membership had risen by about 10 per cent this year, as it increased its fleet from four to seven aircraft.
The latest national figures from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau showed recreational aviation aircraft were involved in fewer reported accidents in 2013, although the number of fatal accidents doubled. There was a fall in general aviation accidents and fatalities in the same year.
As for this reporter, a slightly heavier than advised landing at Hong Kong's notorious and now-closed Kai Tak airport meant the simulator was the spot for me.
"We would have lost some wheels," my pilot Anthony Berko cheerfully advised.