Industry Academic Partnering

In recent months I’ve been immersed with aircraft maintenance training and education. I’ve been visiting new and long-standing aviation maintenance schools, speaking with instructors and students about the industry, touring school classrooms and labs, as well as hosting our own training events for Inspection Authorization refresher training. And I must say enjoying every minute of it.

Recently, the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) submitted detailed comments to the recent FAA CFR 147 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. My role as an ATEC board member has allowed me a detailed look into the details and requirements of operating and managing a CFR 147 school.      

The ATEC Annual Conference is scheduled for April 9th through the 12^th in Atlanta, GA. The agenda is full of professional development sessions on topics such as unmanned aircraft, emerging technologies, an update from the STEM Coalition, and many more all aimed at further expanding the academic horizons of instructors and administrators from the Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools that ATEC supports. Whether you are from a school or just interested in aircraft maintenance education consider attending the 2016 ATEC Conference and meet the people who train the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians.

Yet, aircraft maintenance training and education does not end at the Part 147 schools – not at all. Our industry has recognized the need for public-private partnering to further develop the technical workforce and develop a greater pipeline of technicians.

In this month’s cover story, “Despite Concerns, MRO is Still on the Grow”, one of the many executives interviewed, AAR’s Danny Kleiman, talks about his company’s strategic partnerships with aviation maintenance technician schools. Kleiman feels the supply of qualified and training people has become a consideration in MRO capacity.

Industry has also developed additional education opportunities aimed to enhance the skills of both students as well as seasoned aircraft maintenance technicians. Companies like Snap-on Industrial have developed several aviation-focused courses with certifications on subjects like use of electrical multi-meters and mechanical and electrical torque measurement devices. In this month’s issue of AMT, Scott Steward, with Snap-on Industrial, describes how Snap-on has partnered with aviation maintenance schools to provide students with additional learning in the feature titled, “Public-Private Partnerships Help Make Careers in Aviation Maintenance Stronger than Ever.” 

While attending the MRO Americas tradeshow in Dallas, stop by and visit with the folks from Snap-on at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition to learn more about their public-private partnering. The AMC is another great activity aimed at enhancing teamwork and the individual skills both students and seasoned technicians need.

I’ll see you there, Ron