Readers sound off about A&P schools and how to best serve students and the eventual employers of those students.

What's Wrong with A&P Schools?

I read with interest your editorial in the October 2004 issue. You are certainly correct in saying that the AMT schools need to identify their customer. Some years ago the automotive industry faced a similar problem. They needed to redefine their training program in order to keep their technicians current and to give their technician a way to document their area of specialization. To do this the automotive industry created a voluntary training program. I believe it is the "ASE" certification program. After a technician has received basic training he may choose to specialize in one area of maintenance or another and will voluntarily attend the appropriate schools for that specialization. The schools may be paid for by either the technician or the employer. The technician then wears a "badge" of his specialization on the uniform. This program has been very successful in the automotive industry and is widely accepted by technicians, employers, and the paying customer. It seems that a similar program could be organized for AMTs.

Duane I. Beland,CMSgt, AKANG
Chief, Quality Assurance 168 ARW
Eielson AFB, Alaska

PAMA, the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, has been working on creating this kind of advanced certification program (www.pama.org). Industry response has been somewhat tepid. We'd like to know what readers think about a non-governmental advanced certification program for aircraft mechanics? Why is this a good or bad idea? Would you sign up for such a program? Who should pay for it, employers or employees? Let us know what you think (mthurber@accessintel.com or phone: 301-354-1831, fax: 301-340-8741).

Overachievers

I'll start in the beginning by addressing the comment that schools only teach the test. I personally take offense to this comment. The two maintenance schools that I have taught at make it a point to teach beyond the A&P exam. The previous school and my current school are both universities that offer a bachelors degree in aircraft maintenance. Both programs teach the required skills and then add extra experience in avionics, electronics, advanced composites, computer-based training, and aircraft-specific experience.

Both programs have active industry advisory committees that meet once or twice yearly to advise the program on what skills need to be addressed. The feedback received seems to focus on the basics like interpreting technical information, safety wire skills, and making sound airworthiness decisions. Also, most industry officials I have talked to would like to train new mechanics on their particular aircraft and methods

Your idea on tracks for students is a good one. At Southern Illinois University (SIU), there are three tracks: advanced maintenance, avionics, and helicopters. At my previous school there was advanced maintenance technology and maintenance management. The idea is good but it is extremely impractical without major industry support. Where do you suggest a public institution like a university or a community college get all the aircraft that you are suggesting? If you haven't heard, most states are in a budget crunch right now and would be unwilling to spend large amounts of money on what are considered small (enrollment numbers) programs. It's been my experience as an educator in aircraft maintenance the last five years that the industry is quick to give advice but when it's time to put up capital backing, they don't return their phone calls.

Here is a prime example when industry donates an airplane to a maintenance program. In 1999, Northwest Airlines donated a Boeing 747-100 to the maintenance program at Western Michigan University under much fanfare. The airplane was flown in and parked on the ramp and it was great for about a week and then industry showed its true colors. First all four engines were removed and taken back to Northwest. Then half of the avionics were removed as well as the fuel quantity senders. Later all the seats were removed. So after a few weeks the great donation was nothing more than the biggest birdhouse in the state.

The problem does not lie in the university and community college programs because they have academic standards in place to teach above the test. Maybe the finger should be pointed to the so-called schools that promise A&Ps and IAs in a week or weekend. Or how about all the back door A&Ps that are signed off for the right amount of money?

I firmly believe that all the respectable aircraft maintenance schools are overachieving with the resources available. It's time for industry to offer support in terms of aircraft, support equipment, and related technology. I don't think any school would mind offering, say, the general aviation maintenance track sponsored by Cessna Aircraft Company.

Jeremy Hierholzer
Assistant Professor
Southern Illinois University
Department of Aviation Technologies

Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

Did you ask anyone in ATEC (Aviation Technical Education Council) Western Region before you wrote your totally moronic and uninformed editorial? Every public school in California and all schools that get federal funds through the VTEA Act (Carl Perkins Act) have to have at least one advisory committee meeting annually. These committees are made up of industry professionals both from the local airports and national carriers. The members recommend and advise curriculum changes based upon current trends in the marketplace, feedback from internship training at their facilities, and new-hire training assessments. The committees advise when and what curriculum needs to be updated. They tell us what equipment needs to be purchased and what curriculum needs to be cut back and eliminated. I am surprised you did not know this. At Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California our mission statement is that industry is our customer and the student is our product. We rely on industry for donations and information. We hire true professionals from corporate and airline fields to teach as adjuncts in their specialty. We are a community college that gives a skill guarantee to our customers. We retrain any student, free of charge, who is not up to snuff or is not current with the newest technology. We are not alone in this.

I am a third-generation aviation mechanic. I have flown with my father since I was three months old. My daughters have flown with me since they were three months old. They work with me maintaining my engines and airframes. I worked for Delta Airlines for five years as a line mechanic before taking an initial $25,000 pay cut to teach and train the future of our industry. I have almost 20 years of daily and weekly contacts that are utilized to get my students' careers in the field they want to pursue. I took a summer job at Gulfstream because I felt we needed to update the skills set in avionics. Over 15 of their employees are from our school because of that contact. I worked in reciprocating overhaul shops to get the latest hands-on experience and establish contacts for internships and future student jobs. I have taken college classes in technical areas where I was weak so to strengthen our composites lab to current industry standards. We have the only avionics training in the western states. Every project, every objective is scrutinized by industry officials. Gainfully employed former students are e-mailed, surveyed, and interrogated to find what is needed as a new hire to get through that first year. I think you should come out of your ivory tower more often.

Rod Foster
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California