ABOUT THE PROGRAM
If you have a passion for aviation, love hands-on work and enjoy complex problem solving, a career in aviation may be for you. There is a huge, unmet demand for qualified aircraft mechanics in Vermont and across the country.
The post-secondary aviation program picks up where the prerequisite program, the FAA General program* leaves off, and is intended for students pursuing their Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aircraft Mechanic certification. Students will receive in-depth, hands-on training in subject areas such as aircraft assembly and rigging, sheet metal fabrication and repair, advanced composites, avionics, inspection procedures and turbine and piston engine maintenance. After graduating from the program, students have the option of pursuing their FAA Mechanic Certification (A&P).
*Secondary Aviation and Aerospace Technology is a 490 hour required prerequisite course that may be completed within one academic year prior to acceptance to the post-secondary program.
Course Structure: Students attend this FAA certified Part 147 program for one academic year, attending class 8 hrs/day, 5 days/wk. While some time is spent in the classroom environment (apx. 30%), most of the learning occurs in the hangar, working on our diverse fleet of airplanes and helicopters. The year is broken up into two sections: Airframe and Powerplant with each section encompassing about 750 curriculum hours.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Students completing the program are qualified to apply for their FAA Mechanic Certificate. BTC has the personnel to offer all the required testing in-house, and can even issue your temporary FAA certificate. Certified mechanics can work in a variety of aviation fields on different types of aircraft and most employers offer plenty of room for career advancement, as well as paid training. The multi-disciplinary training students receive prepares them for other technical fields besides aviation; many of our students have gone onto engineering school or pursued other technical areas.
EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE AVIATION FIELD
- Airline mechanic
- Sheet metal technician
- Avionics technician
- Composite repair
- General aviation (small aircraft)
- Helicopter mechanic
- UAV mechanic
- Component repair
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Moses Daly has been an FAA certified A&P for 20+ years having worked in general aviation, for flight schools and the airlines. In addition to being an A&P, he has his Inspection Authorization (IA) and is an FAA Designated Maintenance Examiner (DME). He’s also a certified Commercial pilot and flight instructor and co-founded Vermont’s largest FAA Part 141 flight school, Vermont Flight Academy. In his spare time he enjoys taking people for rides up and down Lake Champlain in his Cessna 172H. Moses has been sharing his love of all things aviation with BTC students for over 10 years.
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Tuition for the 2023-24 School Year Including Tools and Fees: $10,950 *Students are responsible for sourcing their own tool box, tools, and books. Therefore, costs on these items may vary.
FAA testing fees are not included as they are typically taken after program completion.
Many adult learners qualify for funding to help with some or all of the tuition cost for training. Career centers work with VSAC, Vermont Department of Labor, HireAbility Vermont, and Vermont Adult Basic Education. VSAC has outreach counselors in every region in Vermont ready to help students learn about grant opportunities. Find a VSAC Counselor in your Region.
For more information on this program, please see our program flyer or contact the Adult Education Coordinator, Cynthia Holt.
Vermont State University Articulation Agreement
This exclusive program at VTSU is only offered to students who first attend BTC. After graduation from the FAA General (secondary) and Airframe & Powerplant (post-secondary) programs, students must pass their Federal Aviation Administration testing to be awarded their Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings. Once that is accomplished, students can complete their remaining gen-eds and graduate from VTSU with a degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology.
A student who enrolls at VTSU through this articulation agreement may expect to take the following courses at the Williston campus:
ENG 1061 – English Composition (3cr)
In this course, the student reads and thinks critically, writes effectively, and understands the fundamentals of literary analysis and written composition. Classroom discussion of assigned readings and the construction of related essays are stressed. A required research paper demonstrates the student’s use of appropriate resource materials in terms of locating, organizing, and presenting their materials in an accepted format. The writing graduation standard and information literacy standard are assessed in this course, which is writing-intensive. 3 hours of lecture per week
ENG 2080 – Technical Communication (3cr)
This course is a comprehensive study of the principles, methods, and forms needed to produce clear and effective communications and technical reports, both written and oral. It stresses business correspondence and the use of graphics in documents and oral presentations. A major technical report is required and is used for assessment of the writing graduation standard. This course provides a direct connection between general education and the student’s major. 3 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: ENG 1061
MAT 1210 – Principles of Mathematics (3cr)
This course reviews general math principles and introduces concepts for the solution of agricultural and business problems. Topics include calculator use; basic algebraic operations, solution of linear and quadratic equations; geometry concepts of line, area, and volume; variation; trigonometry of right triangles; growth; compound interest; debt amortization; probability; and statistics. 3 hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Placement level 2
PHY 1030 – General Physics (4cr)
This general physics course introduces the student to basic classical physics. Topics include Newtonian mechanics, elasticity, fluids, heat transfer, and DC circuits. 3 hours of lecture, 3 hours of lab per week. Prerequisite: MAT 1210
CIS 1041 – Computer Applications (3cr)
This course introduces information processing using the Windows operating system and application software designed for computers and mobile devices. The course covers file management, presentation graphics, word processing, and spreadsheets. Basic algebra skills are recommended. 3 hours of lecture per week.
AHE XXXX – Arts & Humanities Elective (3cr)
SSE XXXX – Social Sciences Elective (3cr)