Engineering Technologies and the Trades

Aviation is an industry cluster that the region has embraced through efforts to attract Empire Aero and the decision to move the County Airport to Griffiss. Efforts have been supported through the commitment of resources from County, State, and Federal representatives. Economic development, workforce development, and education partners have implemented programs to grow the aviation cluster in the Mohawk Valley. This program will:

• Create jobs and train technically skilled aircraft maintenance employees to obtain them
• Attract aircraft–related firms to upstate New York
• Support the mission of the Homeland Security Training Facility at the former Oneida County Airport
• Expand the BOCES Career and Technology Education offerings to students seeking employment opportunities locally
• Provide well–prepared employees and professional development opportunities for Empire Aero and other transportation–related businesses in the Mohawk Valley

With the County Airport operations based at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park [Griffiss], greater demand should occur for A&P mechanics. The college anticipates satisfying this demand through the A&P program.

Presently, Empire Aero is hiring ten new mechanics per month, with an expectation to have 400 employees by December 2007. Most of these employees will be in direct labor functions such as A&P Mechanic, Structures, Avionics, and Inspection. The College will train students to obtain employment at Empire Aero as well as other anticipated employers at Griffiss. As many as 75 students can potentially graduate from this program each year. Many direct and indirect jobs will be created by having an operational A&P program at Griffiss.

The College is continually seeking resources to fund facility, equipment, and tooling required to operate the program. The College relies upon Oneida County and other stakeholders to support this effort and to cover costs associated with occupying the facility and acquiring equipment. Equipment, tooling, and financial donations will complement direct financial support by the Oneida County Legislature, MAP funding, financial consideration from elected officials, and anticipated financial support from Empire State Development.

The Aviation Technology Hangar occupies a former Air Force hangar, Building 221, as the primary program facility. General education courses are held at the Rome Campus. Oneida County provided $2 million for renovation of the hangar and certain capital equipment for the A&P program.

MVCC A&P Program students are trained on the most up–to–date aircraft systems. Aircraft the program currently has include a Boeing 727–100 donated by FedEx, a Cessna 200 single engine with retractable wheels and the twin–engine Cessna 310 that seats four people. Training equipment includes two General Electric engines along with engines from Rolls Royce, Allison and Pratt & Whitney.

The program’s day–to–day operation is under the direction of Walt Constantini, A&P Program Director, under the College’s Engineering Technologies and the Trades academic department.

There are two full–time faculty and 12 part-time staff members, all of whom are FAA licensed A&P instructors. When not teaching, the part–time staff work full-time as aviation technicians.

The A&P program tuition and fees ($10,405 as of April 2007) are considerably less than other programs in the Northeast. Most other colleges charge $15,000 – $27,500. The College continues to be sensitive to student costs, and has kept the program fee as low as possible.

Although the FAA guidelines for A&P programs have not changed significantly in twenty years, the technology has changed dramatically. To keep pace, the College may need to purchase additional equipment related to avionics, composite material, and non-destructive testing.

The FAA has been working with the College to ensure that all requirements are met.

1. Adequate funding for equipment, supplies, and materials
2. Facility renovations and upgrades at Griffiss
3. Empire Aero support for the program, including equipment and supplies
4. Oneida County support
5. State and federal legislator support through earmarked funding
6. Immediate and ongoing need for graduates as stated by Empire Aero
7. Success in Oneida County efforts to establish Griffiss as the regional commercial airport facility that will create a demand for A&P mechanics
8. Partnership with BOCES and local high schools to recruit students
9. FAA approval of the program
10. Program approval by SUNY and registration by SED
11. No other competing program in upstate New York

This course introduces general aviation maintenance practices, including topics in Mathematics, blueprints/charts, Physics, maintenance forms and publications, human factors, ethics, and aircraft weight and balance. This course also introduces students to airframe material testing procedures. Additional topics include precision measurements, identification and selection of aircraft materials, basic heat-treating processes, penetrant, chemical etching and magnetic particle inspections, welding inspection, and the identification and selection of non-destructive testing methods.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to maintain cleaning and corrosion controls, fluid lines, and fittings. Aircraft general servicing and ground operations are also included.

This course introduces the basic electricity terms and calculations, including voltage, resistance, capacitance, inductance, and power. Reading and interpreting electrical circuit diagrams and the inspection and servicing of batteries are also introduced.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to maintain, service and repair airframe electrical and electronic systems.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to maintain Ice and rain control, Fire Protection, and aircraft associated utility systems, including hydraulic and pneumatic power systems. Other topics covered are methods and procedures needed to maintain aircraft landing gear systems, cabin atmosphere control systems, and oxygen systems.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to inspect and repair wood structures, aircraft coverings, and exterior finishes as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publication AC43.13-1B (Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices). Topics include identifying, inspection, and repair of wood structures; selection, inspection, testing, and repair of fabric and fiberglass coverings; application of trim and letters; and the identification, selection, application, and inspection of aircraft finishing materials. Proper rigging of a fixed and rotary wing aircraft, checking alignment, of structures, assembling aircraft, balancing and rigging movable surfaces, and properly raising and lowering an airplane are also introduced.

This course introduces the materials, equipment, tools and procedures needed for the inspection and repairs to aircraft sheet metal structures as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publication AC43.13-1B (Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices). Topics also include the inspection and repair of bonded, plastic, honeycomb, and laminated structures, and the inspection and repair of windows doors, and interior furnishings.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to understand basic principles of various types of aircraft welding. Students learn inspection, troubleshooting and repair, and operation of aircraft fuel systems, as well as perform airframe conformity and airworthiness inspections.

This course introduces methods and procedures needed to maintain Engine Fire Protection and Engine Systems. This course also introduces auxiliary power units (APU), unducted fan engines, and reciprocating engines.

The course introduces the basic skills necessary to overhaul a reciprocating engine.

This course introduces methods and procedures necessary to inspect, service, repair, install, and troubleshoot gas turbine engines and associated engine systems.

This course introduces methods and procedures necessary to inspect, service, repair, install, and troubleshoot engine systems and associated components, and to control for engine fuel, induction, ignition and starting systems, and associated instruments. Other topics include methods and procedures necessary to inspect, service, troubleshoot, and repair exhaust systems, engine reverser systems, and propeller systems.

This course introduces installation and repair of engine electrical systems. Methods and procedures required for airframe and engine airworthiness inspections are introduced.