A soon-to-be-launched collegiate aviation maintenance technology (AMT) program in Huntington, West Virginia, is driving MRO growth in the region.
In addition to providing aviation education opportunities in a previously underserved area, the joint AMT program from Marshall University and Mountwest Community and Technical College was a driving factor behind an MRO provider’s decision to expand to Huntington Tri-State Airport.
According to Jim Smith, interim director of the Marshall/Mountwest AMT program, the only options previously available for students in the region to study aviation maintenance and technology required traveling around 180 mi. southwest to Somerset, Kentucky, or around 180 mi. northeast to Bridgeport, West Virginia. Now, students will be able to earn FAA certifications in airframe and powerplant maintenance and a joint associate in applied sciences degree from both schools.
Facilities construction for the joint AMT program broke ground at Huntington Tri-State Airport on March 26 and the inaugural class is scheduled to begin in January 2022. Its initial certification with the FAA will give it the capacity to enroll up to 100 students, which Smith expects the school to meet or exceed due to high interest in the tristate region.
The program will also provide opportunities for students to get real-world career experience with companies like Kentucky-based aviation maintenance and avionics provider Thoroughbred Aviation, which is opening its new facility at the airport on Aug. 1. The facility will be Thoroughbred’s first outside of Kentucky to be continually staffed.
“One of the primary reasons we selected Tri-State is Marshall University’s aviation programs for both future pilots and maintenance technicians. We look forward to partnering with these programs to mentor young aviation professionals and create future job opportunities in the region,” says Joe Otte, vice president, Thoroughbred Aviation. “It is our hope that we will be able to provide a ‘real world’ work environment for the students with some internships and mentoring from our experienced and knowledgeable technicians. Our current type of maintenance operations allow for a very broad experience.”
Thoroughbred’s new 10,000 ft.2 hangar will offer general aviation and helicopter inspections, maintenance and repair as well as some structures work, avionics inspections and instrument flight rules certifications. It eventually plans to perform avionics installations at the site as well, depending on needs in the area. The site will initially employ three technicians, but Otte hopes the number will grow to 10-15 maintenance, avionics and support personnel.
Marshall/Mountwest AMT students will also get experience working with airlines. Thoroughbred has line maintenance contracts in place at the new site with American Airlines and Allegiant Air. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines Technical operations has designated the new AMT program as a partner educational institution. According to Smith, the airline will assist the program by providing additional training for instructors, equipment, mock interviews for students and access to the internal training programs it has created for its 45 other partner educational institutions.
The AMT program is also receiving nearly $900,000 in training equipment from Avotek and it is looking to acquire some aircraft through the U.S. government’s excess program. The program’s equipment currently includes several Cessna, Piper and King Air aircraft as well as Lycoming ALF 502 and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines. It is currently looking for leads on other aircraft it can acquire for hands-on projects.
One unique piece of equipment the AMT program will use to teach students is a virtual reality system to simulate the aviation paint shop environment. Smith says the VirtualPaint Products system, which is also used by the U.S. Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command, will eliminate the need for consumables such as paint and personal protective gear while reducing setup and cleanup time.
The AMT program’s first building, a renovated former National Guard Armory, is expected to be finished by October. The building will house the program’s general education curriculum and airframe labs as well as capabilities for nondestructive testing, composites and emerging technologies. The program expects to finish construction on its 12,000 ft.2 powerplant building in summer 2022.
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