"This program will create the next generation of aircraft structure technicians."
The new Aviation Program at Francis Tuttle Technology Center will give students a unique, first-person view of what the industry offers in Oklahoma.
For several years now, Aerospace Technology programs have helped post-secondary students find a technician career through hands-on training. Now, that same idea is being applied to high school students through aviation.
“This program will allow both high school and adult students to obtain training in three different fields of aerospace knowledge with a regimented approach,” Program Developer Nick Powell, who oversees the adult Aerospace programs, said. “High schoolers will finish in one school year, and adults can be trained quickly by attending full-day classes.
Students in the Aviation program train in three primary areas:
- Sheet metal fabrication and repair
- Composites fabrication and repair
- Drone piloting
This provides students with a well-rounded set of skills to bring to a job in the aircraft technician career field. And that field is large in the state since it includes the AAR Corporation in Oklahoma City and the American Airlines Tech Ops facility in Tulsa.
“More and more aircraft technicians will be needed to support the two largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities within the United States,” Powell said. “This program will create the next generation of aircraft structure technicians.”
Aviation training also includes preparation for the FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot’s license exam. Students are encouraged to take that exam since it would provide avenues into careers created by the increasing use of drones.
“We will also focus on aerial photography, cinematography, drone industry applications, and advanced piloting,” Powell said. “Students will also learn the emerging technology of aerial mapping and surveying, creating precise survey-grade 3D models of buildings, job sites, and more using photogrammetry technology.”
The Aviation program will help Oklahomans get into this important industry by providing hands-on training in a real-world setting.
And a clear pathway into this industry isn’t only important for individuals; it is also crucial for the state’s economy.
“The stability of the industry here attracts new businesses that are looking to relocate or start up new ventures within the industry, and that’s a huge economic development driver for the state,” Powell said.