• Dover
• Georgetown
• Stanton
• Wilmington

First graduates of Delaware Tech's airframe maintenance
program recognized by FAA, county and college

Posted: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Georgetown - The inaugural class of students to complete the rigorous airframe maintenance technology (AMT) program offered by Delaware Technical & Community College were honored at a reception on Wednesday, September 1 at the Aviation Maintenance Education Center, located in the Sussex County Airpark.

Fifteen students recently completed the program which was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in May 2009. The graduates, who reside statewide from Hockessin and Wilmington to Bethany Beach, are now prepared to take the FAA certification tests to earn an FAA airframe license.

Prior to the recognition program, Joseph A. Kain, Sr., FAA, manager of the Philadelphia F.S.D.O., presented to each student the Mechanics Creed and certificates of completion for eligibility to sit for the licensure exam.

Remarks during the program were given by Dr. Orlando J. George, Jr., president of Delaware Tech; Dr. Ileana Smith, vice president and Owens Campus director; David B. Baker, Sussex County administrator; Barry Weiss, department chair; and Ronald Thompson, 2010 AMT graduate.

Dr. George stated, "Delaware Tech's unique mission of connecting Delawareans with jobs makes the college a lynchpin in the state's workforce and economic development — now and in the future. We deliver the solutions needed to build and maintain a vibrant state economy. Yet it takes partnerships to respond to the expanding and emerging workforce needs of businesses, and it was truly an incredible collaboration among several key players that made it possible to meet the workforce need in the aviation maintenance field."

Among the individuals in attendance to note the significance of the event were various legislators and officials representing the state and county, college administrators, board members and staff, program advisory committee members, Owens Campus Development Council members, and aviation industry representatives.

John Martin, president and CEO, PATS Aircraft Systems, also located at the Sussex County Airpark, commented, "What started in 2006 as a discussion on how Delaware Tech could better serve the workforce needs of Sussex County businesses evolved into a "first class" Airframe Maintenance program offering a valuable pool of FAA certified airframe maintenance mechanics that live in Delaware to our company." Members of the 2010 class are: Thomas M. Beenick, Kyle J. Leyanna, and Joseph Watson, Milford; Michael J. Coleman, Wilmington; Norly Edouard and Amos Edouard, Seaford; Stephen C. Galvacky and Ronald A. Thompson, Lewes, Devin T. George, Georgetown; William G. Jester, Newark; George W. Kershaw, Ellendale; Nicholas J. Lawrence, Bethany Beach; George Z. Marker, Lincoln; Stephen M. Moffett, Milton; Daniel O. Souders, Hockessin.

In order to obtain certification by the FAA, Delaware Tech's AMT program underwent a three-day intense review and examination in May 2009 to ensure that the program meets the exacting and essential standards of the industry. Not only was the college successful in achieving its goal, Kain stated during the certification presentation in 2009 that in the history of the FAA office in Philadelphia, Delaware Tech's program is the first one to offer a college degree associated with airframe training.

Delaware Tech has been successful in its development of programs of study to meet the workforce needs of Delaware's employers and to provide Delawareans with the education necessary to obtain good-paying jobs. The AMT program offers students opportunities in an industry that is continuing to grow and thrive. The Aviation Maintenance Education Center demonstrates Delaware's commitment to this industry, positioning the county and state with an educated workforce to grow and attract aviation-related businesses.

In his congratulatory letter to the college, Patrick Lewis, FAA program director for airport & aircraft safety R & D, noted that an increase of passenger air traffic and the advanced complexity of the latest aircraft in service are creating a demand for well-trained airframe maintenance technicians.

Three members of the inaugural class already have obtained employment in the aviation field, others plan to apply for upcoming jobs, and two are pursuing a bachelor's degree in the field at another state institution. The immediate step for the new graduates is taking the FAA certification test for licensure. Committed to the success of these students, the AMT faculty at Delaware Tech is providing an intensive three-week review course. The grads will then take the FAA certification exam which includes exams consisting of 160 questions taken on the computer and oral and practical exams lasting 10-14 hours and administered by a designated maintenance examiner.

The significance of the program is explained best in the words of graduate Ron Thompson: "The airframe maintenance program was instrumental in helping me reach my goal - to get into the aviation industry. I wanted a career field that could grow and be local at the same time. It's good to see Sussex County, the FAA and Delaware Tech work together for the benefit of this program and its students. With this program, and many others, Delaware Tech has created a lot of opportunities for people."