Kiowa 'copter Gives Mohawk Program a Lift, College's Aviation Maintenance Students Land at Warplane Museum
A Canadian Armed Forces Kiowa helicopter that will never fly again is going to help Mohawk College aviation maintenance students keep other aircraft aloft.
The Kiowa - officially known as a Bell CH-136 light observation helicopter - belongs to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is being restored for static display, in a unique partnership with the college.
Museum spokesperson Al Mickeloff, retail and marketing manager, says their Kiowa is number 44072, one of the last of 74 delivered to the Canadian Forces between 1971 and 1982.
The nimble Kiowa is a single-engine, single-rotor (two-bladed) helicopter for observation, reconnaissance, command and liaison, target acquisition, and artillery and fighter fire direction or spotting.
The last of the Kiowas were retired in 1996 and replaced by the larger CH-146 Griffon.
"The Kiowa arrived at the museum in 2007, already painted in the markings of No. 409 (Goose) Squadron, based at Namao, Alberta," said Mickeloff, adding the agreement is a great opportunity to have the craft refurbished for display.
Dr. Bill Brimley, associate dean of Mohawk's aviation program, said the college has been working on partnerships at the airport since 2008 and began with an aviation maintenance course in 2010. Last fall, 300 students applied for the 30 spaces available.
The students had been working and taking classes in the museum but moved over to their own space in the former WestJet hangar in December.
Brimley said the helicopter is pretty much complete, including most of the instruments - a big plus for students - and the school is looking into obtaining engines that can be fitted for training.
The Kiowa will not fly, but Mohawk's aviation program has a couple of light planes students can use for taxiing lessons. Maintenance crews are required to move aircraft around from time to time, after all.
"It's an excellent arrangement," Brimley said. "The students need experience on helicopters. We're fortunate this aircraft was donated to the museum."
Brimley is also excited about the pending donation of a Boeing 727 cargo jet to the program.
"We have great partnerships with the tenants and operators at the airport," he said, adding there is a good future for aviation maintenance students because the coming years will see a high demand for technicians.
"It's a pretty tremendous program."
Grads will go on to certify aircraft for flight-readiness, as Mohawk's course meets Transport Canada approval. Students must maintain a 70 per cent average to stay aloft, however.
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