Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Aviation Maintenance
Program Receives Power Plant Rating

By Mena Ganesan
Canadian Valley Technology Center

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently authorized the Canadian Valley Technology Center (CVTC) Aviation Maintenance Technology program to add the Power Plant curriculum for students who want to pursue the FAA certification in aircraft mechanics.

“The Aviation Program now accommodates the total needs of the students,” said CVTC Asst. Superintendent, Clark McCaskill.  “Most of the repair facilities in the area, especially Tinker Air Force Base, require their employees to have their A & P (Air Frame & Power Plant) licenses prior to employment.”

Before CVTC received the Power Plant rating, students from the Aviation program were required to transfer to another school after completing the airframe curriculum. 

“Without the Power Plant rating, many adult students were reluctant to attend at CVTC because they knew they would eventually have to transfer,” said CVTC Aviation Maintenance Instructor, Martin Engell.

“The transfer process posed several problems for our students,” he said.  “First, students had difficulty transferring because the transfer school’s class might be full and our students would get waitlisted.  Students were also faced with increased expenses and a longer commute at the transfer school.”

Prospective students can enroll in the CVTC Aviation Maintenance Technology in August through May and can attend full-time or part-time.

“Facilities like Tinker AFB have indicated that in the next few years there will be many employees retiring and there are currently not enough people in the preparation process to fill the demand,” McCaskill said.

“The students who receive their A & P certification are in high demand in the workforce and can get good paying jobs.”

For more information, contact Mena Ganesan, Communications & Marketing Specialist at 405.422.2303 or Bill Kramer, Communications & Marketing Director at 405.422.2258.