In April I was invited to visit the Bombardier Hartford Service Center and participate in an Inspiring Future Aviators event. Bombardier Business Aircraft’s Hartford Service Center, along with the New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport have sponsored and presented the Inspiring Future Aviators (IFA) program for many years. They bring students from local high schools, technical, and vocational schools to visit the facility to learn and enhance their knowledge on what the aviation industry is about and what it has to offer them.
The day began at the New England Air Museum located at Bradley Field where we met up with a group of high school students from Westfield Technical Academy (WTA). One of the museum docents toured us around the museum describing the history of some of the aircraft, engines, restoration projects, and other rare forms of aviation history all in an effort to, yes, inspire this young group of students.
Westfield Technical Academy is only one of a few high schools in the United States to offer a full Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program, and the only one in New England. WTA added this AMT program to its courses of study after identifying that the aviation industry was experiencing an increasing mechanic shortage.
It didn’t take long for me to conclude these were not your typical high school students. Boys and girls alike were dressed in a work uniform which proudly displayed the school patch and their personal names. These kids were all sharp, engaged, and eager to learn about aircraft maintenance.
Once back at the Hartford Service Center I spoke to the students about careers in aviation and aircraft maintenance. The service center tour began with a briefing on who Bombardier was and how the operation functions, explaining the processes in the maintenance of aircraft. Students could see the diversity of professions such as A&P and avionics technicians, engineers, structures, interiors and the various support departments, and were encouraged to visit the careers website to explore the opportunities worldwide within the Bombardier organization.
Later in the day I sat down with Lee Boulanger, general manager, Hartford Service Center, in the cabin of one of the demonstrator aircraft and she proudly explained, “Bombardier Business Aircraft’s Hartford Facility has always known that supporting our community is both of great benefit to our stakeholders and is also a business imperative. The Inspiring Future Aviators program helps us engage, inspire, and actively develop the next generation of aviation professionals – this is of direct benefit not only to Bombardier, but to our industry as a whole, and our entire team is proud to lead in this effort. We look forward to the day when we onboard the first recruit from the IFA program.” By the way, Lee began her career as an aircraft mechanic at this same facility.
David Huot, interiors supervisor, is the IFA point person for the Bombardier Hartford Service Center and says, “At Bombardier Business Aircraft, we love welcoming students to our facility to help them understand and learn about our operations and the many professional opportunities that are available to them within the industry."
The next morning we visited WTA and toured the AMT program classrooms and a local airport hangar being renovated for school use. Galen Wilson, a retired Air Force Chief Master Sargent, serves as department head and main instructor. Wilson’s passion for aviation and teaching are clearly reflected in the fact that the aviation technology program has become one of the most requested technical programs at WTA. Wilson explained that from conception during the fall of 2013 to certification in August 2016, the program came into being due to the combined efforts of local officials, industry members, and numerous volunteers. Currently there are 36 students in the program and the first class is due to graduate in 2019.
After a day and a half at Bombardier Hartford Service Center, the New England Air Museum, and Westfield Technical Academy, I was the one inspired.
