Show a of Aviation Maintenance Training Program Moving To i r T P. P t c t Jt f fj I d. d y v Prior to June 30 1988 the old Airport Authority vehicle e em m maintenance building on the airports airport's east side will have been remodeled and a small new hangar with storage space will be built adjacent to the facility Seventy-five Seventy to students willbe will willbe willbe be moving from Woods Cross to Salt Lake International to continue their training in the Aviation Maintenance Main Main- Maintenance Technician program of Salt Lake Community College The story originated in July 1982 when local leaders in the aircraft industry suggested to the college administration that there is a areal areal areal real need for aircraft mechanic training training training train train- ing in Salt Lake then Utah Technical College at t Salt Lake Lak petitioned the tle Utah State Board of Reg Regents for permission to begin an airframe and power-plant power mechanics program College president OD 00 Carnahan defended his recommendation and pointed out the industry appeal for more aircraft mechanics was the strongest request weve we've ever had The year two college was was able to start the program with from emergency manpower training money administered by the State Board for Vocational Education The Regents gave provisional approval and the program got underway in January 1984 The Federal Aviation Administration approved the year two-year curriculum and authorized up to 25 students for each beginning class Donations of equipment to a avalue avalue avalue value of 14 million were received from federal and state agencies equipment dealers and manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers manu manu- repair stations and other private sources A facility at Woods Cross was leased adjacent to the Skypark Airport Airport Airport Air Air- port and students student s have been feeding feeding feeding feed feed- ing into the program regularly ever since The FAA has authorized up a ato ato ato to lOP new students per year At times there have been as many as applicants on a waiting list According to the programs program's current coordinator Brian Williamson William William- son there have been more than graduates of the year two r program since its inception They are employed all over the country he says The major airlines foresee huge needs for technicians during the next several years With about training programs throughout the nation there still may be a shortage of such mechanics Both Williamson and colleague Clifford Wiesenberg two of the five full time full time instructors teaching the program for Salt Lake Community College agree that the program is designed to give students the knowledge knowledge knowledge know know- ledge and skills to perform repairs and maintenance at a level to pass pass' the FAA written oral and practical exams for an A P Mechanics license Every major airline of course has its own training programs We tell our students that they're into a lifelong learning situation Wiesenberg says Our program is desperately short of anything approaching state state-o the state the art equip equipment ent We do not pretend to give students on hands-on experience with current technology although in our classroom discussions we certainly talk about the high tech breakthroughs Williamson adds But even with witha a very limited budget education is taking it on the nose with reduced financing and older equipment we can still teach those basics necessary for un understanding the newer more advanced equipment With 84 students presently in the day program there are there are also about 35 FAA-approved FAA students who attend evening general update classes twice a week through the School of Community and Continuing Education Day students emerge from from the year two program with either a diploma or by taking additional academic classes an Associate in Applied Science degree From time to time Salt Lake Community College has also taught ground school for private pilots in preparation for those individuals taking the FAA written examina examina- tion At present the institution is offering a on Channels 7 w N ra r fi fit t a and d 9 to FI Fly 1 k cr crand fJ r During the past several years years' some graduates have become becom employed with smaller local aviation businesses as well as wit with Hill Air Force Base For a time the college had a cooperative program with Hi Hill whereby students could work at Hill for two quarters of time full-time paid related aviation-related employment and receive college credit for their experience Currently that arrangement is in abeyance although the cooperative programs throughout the college are blossoming tax taxpayers taxpayers p payers students and employers alike Salt Sa Lake Community College is proud of its Aviation Maintenance Technician program and expects the planned move to the Salt Lake In International Airport facility next year to be helpful to everyone Editors Editor's note The program needs working non aircraft parts for classroom and lab experience If you know o of spare aircraft parts suitable for this purpose please call Brian Williamson at t |