Calhoun Community College formally opened a new Aviation Maintenance Technology program on Tuesday, August 18, adding a technical training pathway aimed at the aviation workforce in north Alabama. The college held a ribbon cutting at its aviation maintenance hangar near Pryor Field Regional Airport in Tanner, where the Federal Aviation Administration presented certification recognizing the site as an approved aviation maintenance training facility. The first classes started the following day.
College President Jimmy Hodges described the opening as a significant step for the college and the surrounding region, saying the program gives students hands on preparation for careers in a growing industry. State Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur said an aviation program at Calhoun had been under discussion for years, driven in part by the campus location next to Pryor Field, and he called the FAA certification the start of further growth.
The curriculum places students in a hangar setting with aircraft, tools, and systems used in commercial maintenance work. Aviation Technology Instructor Adam Crow said the emphasis falls on the daily practical tasks technicians perform, with students handling the equipment used across the trade. The two year program leads to associate of applied science degrees in airframe and powerplant.
Development involved regional aviation employers and workforce agencies. Representatives from the Alabama Community College System, the FAA, Pryor Field, and Huntsville International Airport joined state and local officials at the ceremony. Gillette Samms, director of aviation programs for the Alabama Community College System, credited partnerships with business and industry for shaping the program. Matthew Upton, a member of the first class, said he found the aircraft mechanic career path while researching options online.
Source: Alabama Daily News - https://aldailynews.com/calhoun-community-college-opens-aviation-maintenance-technology-hangar-launches-program/