Highlights
- Ahmed Abdelwahed Saied Nasreldin assembled a 2000-piece flight simulator in the back of his Sydney shop.
- The Egyptian arrived in Australia in 2018 on a student visa and found it difficult to certify his qualifications as an aviation electrical engineer.
- He's offering simulation classes and photo opportunities.
Arriving in Australia in 2018 with hopes to continue his upward trajectory in his chosen field as an aviation electrical engineer, Egyptian Ahmed Abdelwahed Saied Nasreldin found a unique way to tap into his passion for flying while in the process of having his qualifications recognised.
After investing in the acquisition of an EzyMart convenience store along Elizabeth Street in Sydney's CBD, he decided to build his own flight simulator in the back.
And while many would look at it as a random addition to any convenience store, Nasreldin says the simulator is the culmination of a life's work and the passion he's had since a young age.
He studied at the Academy of Aviation Engineering and Technology in Imbaba, Cairo, and secured a job with Egyptair in 2012 after completing his studies, before making the move to Australia years later.
"When I was young, I loved electronics engineering. I was interviewed by the Egyptian TV in 1996 for the Young Inventors program as one of the talents at that time,” he tells SBS Arabic24.
He says securing a job in Australia was difficult as he held a student visa on arrival.
"I thought it would be easy for me to find a job [in Australia]. I applied to Boeing and Airbus in Australia.
قمرة قيادة الطائرة في شكلها النهائي Source: supplied: Ahmad Naser aldeen
“My application was initially accepted only to be rejected later in the recruitment process because I was not an Australian citizen. Those companies do not offer part-time work."
After migrating on the temporary visa, he worked to equate his qualifications and to gain the required experience to be certified but notes that even those certificates were not recognised by the employers he was applying to.
He was faced with the prospect of having to transfer his Egyptian license to a European one before again transferring it to Australia, a process that could take three years.
Due to the costs associated with going through this route, he decided to reassess his prospects.
أصدقاء ومحبو أحمد أثناء تصنيع الجهاز Source: supplied: Ahmad Naser aldeen
A friend suggested he invest in the convenience store, which he decided to step into with both feet, and so the idea for the simulator came to life.
However, the store struggled during Sydney's pandemic lockdown period and the contract Nasreldin signed to buy a simulative device was revoked by the supplier before he finally got his hands on one - albeit in many pieces, and at the cost of $100,000.
The simulator mirrors the cockpit of an Airbus A320.
An Egyptair Airbus A320 Source: AAP
“The lockdowns due to COVID-19 caused me great losses because customers did not come to the store, but it benefitted me in other ways.
“I offered to buy the device disassembled, and 2,000 pieces weighing around 800 kilograms were sent to me without any installation instructions.”
With the help of his family and former work colleagues, he fitted the simulator to the shop layout and built the external structure using wood and metal.
قمرة قيادة الطائرة التشبيهية في مراحل التاسيس Source: supplied: Ahmad Naser aldeen
Although Sydney emerged from lockdown in October, Nasreldin says the “true gamechanger” for his business came from the exposure he's received in October and November.
"At that point, I hadn’t even developed a marketing plan yet. Those interviews came as a blessing from God. It happened by mere chance.”
Due to its location across the street from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) office, which is currently hearing a corruption inquiry into former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Nasreldin says the shop is attracting new customers and he is offering the simulator out for photo opportunities, professional sessions and pilot practice.
“Because of the long wait [in the ICAC office], journalists would come to my store to buy juice and coffee, but they were surprised to see an aviation simulator.”
He says many of his regular clients have given the simulator a go, which helps to spread the word.
“I also welcome professionals or those who want to learn the basics.
“Some people just want to put on a uniform and be photographed against the background they choose."
Due to the store’s newfound popularity, Nasreldin plans to change its name to the Airport Convenience Centre and hopes the endeavour will guide him along the way to eventually continuing his career as an aviation electrical engineer.
