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FAA certification for training goes to WATC

BY PHYLLIS JACOBS GRIEKSPOOR

The Wichita Eagle

Wichita Area Technical College has taken over from Cowley College as the providing institution for aircraft maintenance technology in Wichita.

The change in Federal Aviation Administration certification for the programs is effective today. The move is part of the overall transition of aviation technical training to WATC in advance of the opening of the National Center for Aviation Training at Jabara Airport.

For the 166 students enrolled in classes at two locations in Wichita, the change will be seamless. They will return from semester break Monday to the same classrooms and the same instructors they had last semester.

Behind the scenes, it has been a busy transition, said Noel Gary, who heads the aviation tech center.

"The biggest share of the work has been administrative, working out the details of the certification inspections, personnel changes and money issues," said Gary, who will continue in his leadership role as a WATC employee.

He said the exciting part of his job is watching the progress being made on construction of the training center at Jabara Airport.

Gary said enrollment has been steady at the aviation tech center. There were 28 graduates in the semester ended April 18, and there are 30 new students for the session that starts Monday.

The program, which has grown rapidly since its start in 2006, expanded this year to a second location in the WATC aviation center at Mid-Continent Airport. It also continues to serve students from a building owned by Cessna Aircraft at Pawnee and Rock Road.

"It's great to see us making an investment in technical education," Gary said. "We've taken our (aircraft) industry for granted for some time and we need to understand how many places would love to have it.

"My daughter works in economic development in Arizona, and it's amazing what they offer to try to attract industry."

WATC president Peter Gustaf said it's exciting to see the program move ahead, along with new programs incubated in preparation for a move to the Jabara campus.

In addition to taking over administration of the airframe and power plant program, WATC has added aviation programs in avionics and advanced aerostructures.

Reach P.J. Griekspoor at 316-268-6660 or pgriekspoor@wichitaeagle.com.