ABOUT THE PROGRAM
If your heart soars at the thought of aviation, if hands-on work is your forte, and if you revel in solving complex problems, then a career in aviation might be your calling. The demand for skilled aircraft mechanics is immense, not just in Vermont but across the nation.
Our post-secondary aviation program seamlessly picks up where the prerequisite program, the FAA General program*, leaves off. Tailored for students aspiring to earn their Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aircraft Mechanic certification, the curriculum delves into aircraft assembly and rigging, sheet metal fabrication and repair, advanced composites, avionics, inspection procedures, and turbine and piston engine maintenance. Graduates have the option of pursuing their FAA Mechanic Certification (A&P) after completing the program.
*The Secondary Aviation and Aerospace Technology is a 490-hour prerequisite course, required and completable within one academic year before acceptance into the post-secondary program.
Course Structure: Students enroll in this FAA certified Part 147 program for one academic year, with classes scheduled 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Approximately 30% of the time is spent in classrooms, while the majority of learning unfolds in the hangar, working on our diverse fleet of airplanes and helicopters. The academic year is divided into two sections: Airframe and Powerplant, each encompassing about 750 curriculum hours.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Upon completing the program, students are eligible to apply for their FAA Mechanic Certificate. BTC facilitates all required testing in-house and can even issue temporary FAA certificates. Certified mechanics find opportunities in various aviation fields, working on different types of aircraft. Most employers offer avenues for career advancement and paid training. The program’s multidisciplinary training also equips students for other technical fields beyond aviation; many alumni have pursued engineering school or ventured into 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
Tuition for the 2024-25 School Year Including Tools and Fees:
- First year students enrolled in the Secondary FAA General Program: $4,000
- Second year students enrolled in the Post-Secondary Airframe & Powerplant: $8,400*
*Students are responsible for sourcing their own tool box, tools, and books which is not included in the cost of tuition. Therefore, costs on these items may vary. FAA testing fees are also not included as tests are typically taken after program completion.
Vermont State University Articulation Agreement
This exclusive program at VTSU is 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)
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 who 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.