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Real-World Training: SkyWest Donates Plane to SLCC’s Aviation Maintenance Program


This SLCC's Salt Lake Technical College staff and faculty meet with Skywest representatives to tour a new plane that SkyWest is donating to SLCC's Aviation Maintenance program for student learning. 



This week, SkyWest Airlines donated a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 aircraft to Salt Lake Community College’s Aviation Maintenance program, complementing and increasing the size of the program’s aircraft fleet, all of which are used to train students for this high-demand industry.

 

“This will provide our students with hands-on maintenance training on a large category aircraft, allowing them to develop above entry-level skills throughout the industry,” says SLCC Aviation Professor Todd Baird.

 

“This is what our students will see in the industry—these same systems,” adds Matt Green, associate dean of SLCC’s Aviation and Transportation programs.

 

The plane is now the largest one in SLCC’s aircraft fleet. While it does not include the engines, it provides all the operational systems found on larger aircrafts, such as landing gear flight controls, electrical systems, and avionics, among others. Matt added that the plane is the ideal size for the space available in SLCC’s hangar and aviation labs yet has the sophisticated systems of larger aircraft.

 

The plane was delivered from SkyWest’s operations center to SLCC’s aviation hangar on Tuesday morning, August 2, a short three-mile trek.


“We’re excited for the opportunities this donation will provide for students pursuing their A&P [airframe and powerplant] by giving them real-world, hands-on experience with commercial aircraft and components,” stated Wade Steel, SkyWest Chief Commercial Officer. “This investment of resources is just another step SkyWest is taking to support students as they advance toward becoming aviation technicians.”

 

Students in SLCC’s Aviation Maintenance program can earn an associate’s of applied science degree within an 18-month to two-year span. Students spend 50% of their time in the classroom and the other 50% in one of five aerospace labs. With small class sizes, instructors are able to work closely with each student. The classes have a morning cohort and a late-afternoon/evening cohort to allow students to work while they earn the degree.

 

“Once students graduate, they will have learned 46 trades in our program, including things like turbine engine repair, aircraft component repair, landing gear and electronic repair,” says Todd, who has more than years of experience in the maintenance industry.

 

Earning an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) degree is affordable through financial aid avenues, scholarships, and industry support. For example, SLCC has an AMT Pathway Partnership with SkyWest Airlines, where students can enroll and receive tuition reimbursements from SkyWest and access a direct path to become a SkyWest technician.

 

For more information on SLCC’s aviation programs, visit the Aviation Maintenance webpage.

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