​ATEC's foundational arm, Choose Aerospace, is piloting testing aviation maintenance curriculum for deployment in a high school setting. The computer-based content covers the general subject areas in emerging mechanic airman certification standards and provides a unique opportunity for part 147 schools looking to increase program awareness in their communities. The webinar, directed at a part 147 audience, will provide an overview of the curriculum, suggestions on how a part 147 program can structure matriculation agreements with high school partners, and a summary of what is required to adopt and implement the content.

For more information, visit https://www.chooseaerospace.org/curriculum.html. 

The following article was originally published on arsa.org, and reprinted with permission from author and ARSA Vice President of Operations, Brett Levanto. The student scholarship was funded by ARSA and facilitated through the Choose Aerospace award program.

In September, ARSA awarded its 2021 scholarship to Fawn Carrington of Tulsa Technology Center. Carrington is an Air Force veteran committed to aviation education for life.
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The grant is part of Choose Aerospace’s 2021 Aviation Maintenance Scholarship and Award Program. ARSA and its partner organizations combined tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of scholarships, textbooks, training systems and testing fee credits for educators and future aviators.

Carrington took the time to tell the repair station community about what’s gotten her this far and where she hopes to go. Her story reflects gratitude for the help she’s gotten and commitment to the lifelong learning needed for success in the constantly-evolving aviation world.

(1) What made you decide to pursue aviation maintenance training? 
Having contributed nine years to supporting the United States Air Force as a munition’s systems technician, I was privileged to see what is involved to ensure aircraft have what they need to complete their missions safely. I was impressed with the aircraft maintenance technicians from the first time I witnessed them hard at work. I became intrigued with the jobs they had and developed a respect for their dedication and unwavering work ethic.

(2) What experience or experiences did you have before you started at Tulsa Tech that have been most valuable to you during school? 
I learned to be mechanically inclined as a teenager working on my first vehicles. I would obtain the service manuals and figure out how to do my own maintenance. Having this experience has helped me to work through my school projects with ease and to help others along the way.

(3) What have you found to be most surprising/unexpected about AMT school? 
The most surprising is the usage of math in many areas of aircraft maintenance. The math is learnable, even by those who think they are “not good at math.” Everyone I have seen from all levels of experience have been able to excel at the work given.

(4) Other than becoming an ARSA member, what are your goals for life after school? 
It is my goal to continue my aviation education for life whilst serving the industry in any way I can. I have an A.S. in Aerospace Administration and intend to complete my B.S. in Aviation Science following my Airframe and Powerplant certifications.

(5) To help ARSA’s members understand the value of the scholarship, tell us about the expenses you have to cover while at school. 
Receiving ARSA’s 2021 scholarship has made me proud and grateful as it nearly covers my final tuition needed to complete the aviation powerplant program on schedule. The reward allows me more time to focus on my studies for upcoming certification exams.

(6) If you learned that someone was considering school/career choices and they asked you about aviation maintenance, what would you say?
If anyone has a curiosity or passion for aviation, whether they intend to obtain their private pilot’s license or not, should pursue an aviation maintenance program. It is as fun and useful as it is interesting to learn about the aerodynamics and practices involved in making these flying machines fly. The aircraft we have flying today are truly amazing and the learning never stops with changes in technology and the progress our community is making with NextGen.

To learn more about the Choose Aerospace Scholarships and Awards Program, click here.

For more information on ARSA’s broader efforts to support industry career development, visit arsa.org/workforce.

Want to congratulate Fawn? Recruit her? Learn more about how to find great candidates like her? Contact ARSA for a referral.

In furtherance of its mission to create and deploy aviation technical curriculum in high schools across the country, Choose Aerospace has filed a petition for exemption from § 65.77, asking the FAA to give students that complete its Choose Aerospace General Aviation Maintenance Curriculum the opportunity to take the FAA general written knowledge test.
 
While normally reserved for applicants with the necessary experience or education, early general written testing would provide an often-necessary credential for high school technical programs, encourage matriculation agreements into secondary education, and provide third-party validation of knowledge for employers.
 
If granted, the exemption would also provide mechanic trainees the same opportunity available to their pilot trainee counterparts, where individuals can and do qualify to take the written private pilot test independent of a part 141 pilot training school.
 
The Choose Aerospace curriculum—which will continually align with emerging FAA mechanic airman certification standards—is being pilot tested this fall at fifteen schools across the country this fall and will be widely available in fall 2022.
 
Under the regulation, the FAA has until Jan. 7 to respond to the petition.

Pathways to Aviation is a non-profit organization that provides workforce solutions through informing, inspiring, and engaging its future labor force. Choose Aerospace Executive Director Crystal Maguire had an opportunity to sit down with Moderator Pete Parker to talk about Choose Aerospace Initiatives in May. Watch that interview below and see the entire slate of panel discussions, here.

​On May 19 2021, Choose Aerospace leadership hosted an informational briefing targeted at schools interested in pilot testing the content for the 2021-2022 academic year. The slide deck and recorded version of that briefing are available below.

For more information about the pilot and the curriculum develop project, visit Curriculum.