Cape Cod Ledger

Thanks to a generous new grant, a new generation of aviation mechanics will be flying high at Cape Cod Community College. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program, housed at Plymouth Municipal Airport, is a recipient of a $463,594 Aviation Workforce Development Grant. This funding supports the program in educating the next generation of aviation professionals.

The AMT program at 4Cs is the only program of its kind in southeastern Massachusetts and is the only program in the State to receive the FAA grant. Grant funds will be used to grow a certified AMT track for students starting in their junior year of high school and the development of a National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies/Aircraft Electronics Technician Avionics Certification program that will produce 24-48 certified avionics technicians every year.

“Since inception in 2016, we have seen our AMT program grow into the premiere destination for future aviation maintenance professionals in our region and beyond,” said John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College. “This very generous grant from the FAA further demonstrates the excellence of our program and the faculty, staff, and students who make it shine. We are excited to take the program to new heights.”

 Students in the AMT program at 4Cs have the opportunity to train on nine aircraft across at their dedicated aviation center at the Plymouth Municipal Airport. The two-year program prepares students to become professionals, further developing critical thinking for troubleshooting and maintaining aircraft, learning how to repair and service nearly every part of a plane, including landing gear, aircraft structure, and engine systems.

 “This is really exciting news for our College, our future students, and aviation employers from Boston to Providence to Cape Cod and across the region,” said Michael Sasso, AMT Program Director. “Our graduates are in-demand, and this grant will increase our capacity to educate more students. The new early-college model will show local high school students how great a profession this is, and the development of the Avionics certificate will prepare students for a growing field in the industry. It’s a very exciting time for AMT.”

Since launching, the College has served more than 230 AMT students from all over New England. With an average annual salary of $70,000, graduates of the program have gone on to careers working for national, regional, and local airlines including JetBlue, CapeAir, and the United States Coast Guard. The program is one of the few training centers on the Eastern Seaboard supporting the airline industry and is only the second in Massachusetts offering certification in both Airframe Structures and Power Plant Theory and Maintenance.

Original source can be found here.