As reported on Mass Live, Westfield Technical Academy in Westfield, MA, has scheduled a grand opening with an open house for the academy’s new Aviation Maintenance Technology Program on Jan. 25.
According to a quote from WTA Principal Stefan Czaporowski to Mass Live, WTA is the first high school in New England to offer a Federal Aviation Administration certified program.
The program first went into the works in the fall of 2013 when school officials began researching the idea. After discovering that aviation is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and the FAA predicts the demand for air travel to continue to grow. By 2033, U.S. commercial carriers are projected to transport 1.15 billion passengers.
An Aviation Maintenance Advisory Committee was created in 2014 consisting of career teaching professionals, local business owners and aviation professionals from the industry including members from the Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing, Bombardier, Dassault. Embraer, Gulfstream, NASA New England Air Museum and Rectrix.
The program already has four donated aircraft for students to learn from. One of those will be transported from Barnes Regional Airport to the school grounds for the grand opening ceremony.
A Black Hawk helicopter will land on the school's football field as part of the ribbon cutting ceremony.
School officials will present an overview of the program in the school's auditorium from 4:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.. Following the ribbon cutting, guests will be allowed to tour program classrooms.
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