Avionics News June 2019 - 40

KENT CAREER TECHNICAL CENTER
Continued from page 39

Brown: We constantly evaluate our lab equipment and
identify needs to stay current with technological trends. The
aviation maintenance program monitors industry trends to track
advancements in technology, including electric-powered aircraft,
composite structures, alternative fuels and unmanned aircraft.
The aviation electronics program recently acquired an
Aeroflex IFR6000 Transponder test set to teach students
current testing methods in accordance with Federal Aviation
Regulation 91.413 and acquired a digital Barfield pitot-static
test set to teach instrument testing in accordance with 91.411.
We also recently added a program to teach students how
to fly and operate small unmanned aerial vehicles. That's
attracted a lot of attention.

Avionics News: How is your program set up? Part
147 with avionics, stand-alone avionics, degree program,
certificate program?
Brown: Each program is stand-alone, offering students
the choice between a focus on aircraft maintenance or
aircraft electronics. As I stated earlier, our programs are
currently not Part 147 compliant.
But both programs offer students the opportunity to
earn industry certifications. As an example, the aviation
electronics programs help students prepare for the NCATT
AET certification followed by endorsements in radio
communication systems, dependent navigation systems, and
onboard communication and safety systems.
Avionics News: Where are your graduating students
being placed? Are many taking jobs outside of aviation?
Brown: We have a very diverse graduating class. There
are jobs in avionics waiting for students, but some pursue
different routes. Some go on to get an engineering degree,
others pursue a pilot's license, and a good percentage of them
go on to get their FAA airframe and powerplant license.
There are a few who go outside aviation and become
electricians with different industries and organizations.
Being a high school program, we cover a diverse student
population.
Avionics News: What is the typical yearly salary of
one of your graduates?
Brown: Depending on where they go, starting annual
wages are typically from $30,000 to $50,000 a year.
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Avionics News: Do you partner with local industry
for support or guidance?
Brown: We have an active advisory committee made
up of local industry partners, including GE Aviation,
L3, Amway Aviation, and General Atomics. Committee
members steer our curriculum to align with industry needs.
Additionally, our committee members serve as designated
examiners during student evaluations, which enables them
to give students feedback on their performance as well as
an outside resource to seek career guidance.
Avionics News: Why are students coming to your
school? Do you have any programs to actively recruit new
avionics students?
Brown: One of our biggest draws is the ability for
graduates to get their NCATT AET certification. These
students are beginning to realize the importance of getting
certified, and the ability to do so before they earn their
high school diploma entices students to enroll. We are
constantly marketing the program through local high
schools.
Avionics News: What are you hearing from
industry on your placements and your programs about the
skill levels of your graduates?
Brown: Locally, I have heard good feedback from our
students. We highlight fundamental skills here, so students
learn all the basics at a NASA standard. Another thing I
have heard is that our students come to work with no bad
habits. Students leaving this program may be young, but
they only know the right way to do things.
Avionics News: Anything we missed?
Brown: We are looking to collaborate with any other
high school programs that may be looking to create their
own avionics program. I also created a rough price sheet
that breaks down the costs for setting up a program and
am happy to share it with other high schools interested in
starting programs like ours.
We are also proud of the fact that when the students in our
recent class took the NCATT AET certification test. We had
an average score of 95%, and two of the students scored a
perfect 100%. q
To learn more about the Kent Career Technical Center,
visit thetechcenter.org.
http://thetechcenter.org
Avionics News June 2019

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