In the middle of April, the aviation maintenance education world converged on Orlando, FL, as the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) came together for the 55th time at its 2015 annual conference.
For aviation maintenance technician schools (AMTS) the ATEC Conference is a unique place: the crossroads between professional development and industry insight. Educators today face many challenges. The typical barriers to learning – short attention spans, the demands of the digital world, and generational divides – are compounded by the frustrations of regulatory compliance and government oversight that are part and parcel of American aviation. To cope effectively, instructors need a comprehensive set of skills, tips, and (sometimes) tricks to get through to their students.
Across four days, the conference provided professional development, substantive industry updates, and issue-focused breakout sessions to help attendees connect with the next generation of aviation professionals. When the event wrapped on April 14, each participant walked away with more than just a completion certificate and Inspection Authorization (IA) credit; they added to their personal set of tools for reaching students, engaging in the passion of “fixing planes,” and keeping the world safely in flight.
To provide sufficient depth in a wide array of topics, specialists from the aviation education world were joined by airline, trade group, manufacturer and government representatives. By bringing together a broad community of interests, ATEC built a coalition of forces united behind one purpose: ensure the flying public will continue to be served by a world-class aviation workforce.
While working towards the future, ATEC’s members and guests took time to celebrate the present. The council recognized its outstanding educator and student of the year. Nancy Jones, instructor at Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Chesapeake, VA, and Russell Wheatley, student at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics each upheld the honor of the profession in accepting their awards. Considering the many challenges ahead for the aviation workforce, the entire community should be thankful for the hard work and dedication of Ms. Jones and Mr. Wheatley.
On To Miami
After the conference’s wrap on April 14, much of the aviation maintenance world – educators and practitioners alike – made the trip south to Miami for MRO Americas and the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC). The council had explored the talents needed to build the workforce of the future, now the AMC was putting those skills on display.
The AMC challenges teams of technicians, engineers, and students with a test of their combined abilities. The competition’s sole purpose is to raise awareness of the training and skills needed to provide safe and airworthy aircraft worldwide while providing a venue for AMT students and practitioners to celebrate their technical competency on a grand and public stage.
For schools, competition at AMC is a great opportunity regardless of the final score. Participation provides instructors a means to encourage the ambition of their students and expose them to the broader maintenance community. It also elevates the institution’s brand, each team member a school-color-clad ambassador of the many classmates and faculty back on campus.
For students, the reward for their hard work is more than just a sightseeing trip and champion's trophy; it's a chance to demonstrate talent while connecting with prospective employers.
“We founded this competition to raise awareness of the training skills needed to maintain safe and airworthy aircraft worldwide by providing a venue for technicians and students to celebrate their competency on a grand and public stage,” said John Goglia, AMC founder and former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, during the event’s opening ceremony. “Of course, we look forward to celebrating the winners – who will have truly earned their accolades this year – but our purpose here is not necessarily to see who is better, but to show how together we can make the aviation world stronger every day.”
Salt Lake Community College won top honors in the school category. Regardless of who holds the victor’s trophy, though, an event like AMC is about industry glory more than individual success.
Whether in Orlando or Miami, in a classroom or on a flightline, at a conference or back at work, building the workforce of the future is a ceaseless challenge. For AMTS, instructors, and administrators, and for the teams competing for professional or personal glory, the message is clear:
Here are the skills needed to maintain the aircraft on which we depend so heavily every day. Here are the men and women who hone those skills in order to carry us and our families safely home.
Brett Levanto is director of operations of Obadal, Filler, MacLeod and Klein, PLC managing firm and client communications in conjunction with regulatory and legislative policy initiatives. As communications manager, he provides strategic and logistical support for the Aviation Technician Education Council.
