Partners in Progress

Partners In Progress

By Michelle Garetson/p>

By Sandy Stephens

June/July 2002

In 1996, Southwest Airlines established the nation's first total electric airport gate at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. All diesel ground support equipment was replaced with battery-powered electric vehicles. An outgrowth of the program was the realization of the need for a cadre of trained technicians to maintain the vehicles. The local utility Oklahoma Gas & Electric, having played a large part in the electrification of the gate, contacted and worked diligently with Mid-Del Technology Center's Electric Vehicle Center of Technology (EVCT) to aid Southwest Airlines in its electric GSE program.

Mid-Del's Electric Vehicle Center is the only Continuing Automotive Service Excellence (CASE) certified EV facility in the nation. Engineering courseware from the University of Oklahoma Electric Vehicle Research Institute was transformed into technician training with the help of a partnership of advisors from the EV industry and the state of Oklahoma. The program started with grants from the Oklahoma governor's office, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and the local utility company. It has grown to national status with major companies through its eight courses on EV Technology. The Electric Vehicle Center of Technology (EVCT) has a four bay, state-of-the-art laboratory to accompany its classroom facilities. Equipment has been provided through local and national grants and includes battery and hybrid technology vehicles and demonstration units.

ESTABLISHING A PARTNERSHIP
OG&E arranged a meeting to establish a partnership between them, Southwest Airlines and EVCT. Following the meeting and after touring the Oklahoma City facility, Mid-Del Technology Center personnel met with Southwest Airlines officials in Phoenix to conduct additional research in determining equipment and technician training needs for a nationwide training program. A needs analysis was performed with the aid of technicians and management in Phoenix and Dallas. Through these focus group meetings, it was concluded that manufacturers of electric vehicle components were able to provide training on specific parts of the equipment, but there was a void in system theory or how all the parts worked together. Lack of knowledge of the new technology and change of processes were hindering the technicians in a culture where fast turnaround time is essential. Help was needed to shift the paradigm of the "diesel mechanic" to think as an "electric vehicle technician." Southwest Airlines connected Mid-Del personnel with its vendors, who willingly provided technical assistance for curriculum design, and the Ground Support Equipment technician's course was developed. Vendors provided invaluable information along with experiential advice and a true training partnership was established. "We must all cooperate to succeed," says Lynn Winters, Southwest Airlines GSE foreman and electric GSE guru.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS
Mid-Del and Southwest Airlines have continued to partner since the course was first piloted in 2000. Southwest Airlines has donated an electric tow tractor to the training program and on-going knowledge of the product. Mid-Del Technology Center, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education System, honored Southwest Airlines with its "Partners in Progress" award for its ongoing efforts.

The 16-hour course has grown to a 24-hour course and technicians have been trained in Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. As equipment changes, so does the curriculum. The GSE course offers students knowledge in basic electricity, component functions, system integration and troubleshooting and maintenance of all models and types of equipment. Actual working equipment is used for demonstration and diagnosis in laboratory exercises. Instructors include technicians and engineers who are qualified adult facilitators and subject matter experts.

LESSONS LEARNED
Southwest Airlines continues to refine its training to be:

• Focused and targeted
• Flexible and dynamic
• Hands-on application (75%)
• Component & system integrated
• Just-in-time
• Fun

Lessons learned from this training include:

• Cooperation and partnerships are essential
• Fear of change and the unknown are paramount, but easily overcome with training
• Base line information (Basic electrical theory) is essential and therefore must be reviewed in the classroom
• You can "teach an old dog new tricks"

THE FUTURE IS HERE
Electrics are in the airline business and Southwest Airlines is not alone in the need for electric vehicle training for technicians. Airlines across the nation are striving to reduce air emissions and one way of accomplishing this is to convert diesel ground support equipment to electric. This may include personnel personnel movers, to tow tractors, to lavatory trucks. With the use of these vehicles, technicians must update their skills to match the new technology to be able to diagnose and repair them and lessen costs and downtime as much as possible.

The economic benefits of quality and applicationbased training cannot be disputed. Cooperation between training facilities and business can make a difference. Promoting the new technology and making the work force stronger through education and training means a stronger economic base for the organization.