Savannah Technical College Announces New Avionics Training
SAVANNAH, GA – Beginning this summer, students seeking specialized careers in aviation will have a new option. Working with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and other industry leaders, Savannah Technical College announced the development of two new avionics certificates as part of their technical training curriculum, to begin May 2019. The new certificates were approved by the Technical College System of Georgia this week.
This curriculum is new for the state of Georgia. “We are proud to be on the cutting-edge of developing new instructional programs like this,” said STC President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “We would not have been able to do so without working so closely with Gulfstream. They collaborated with us to create curriculum and helped us identify critical training equipment. Gulfstream is an exemplary business partner committed to investing in workforce development and career readiness.”
With a sizable pledge from Gulfstream, the college will equip its new avionics lab with advanced equipment, including 13 electronic trainers, four fully outfitted avionics technician boxes and a data bus trainer.
“Through our partnership with Savannah Technical College, we continue to train and prepare students for aerospace careers,” said Jay Neely, vice president for law and public affairs, Gulfstream. “The college’s new avionics program is the most recent example of our collaborative commitment to ensure we are providing local students with the tools and training they need to be successful in our field.”
The avionics certificates may be completed in two semesters starting in May 2019. The first semester, students will take three courses to earn the Avionics Installer Certificate (10 hours): Introduction to Aircraft and Aviation Fundamentals, Basic Aircraft Electricity and Basic Aircraft Electrical Wiring and Troubleshooting. Upon completion of the Avionics Installer Certificate or equivalent work experience, students will advance to the Avionics Technician Certificate (nine hours), which includes three courses: Aircraft Navigation, Communication and Avionics Systems, Advance Aircraft Electricity and Advance Aircraft Wiring and Troubleshooting.
As avionics technicians, graduates will understand the different systems found on modern aircraft, how to do basic trouble shooting on aircraft systems and methods to integrate systems on aircraft. They could also find employment in the retrofit side of aviation with companies that are busy updating older aircraft to modern avionic suites.
“With the continued evolution of aircraft, the need for understanding how to correctly install, integrate, and troubleshoot wiring and systems on aircraft has grown,” said STC Dean of Aviation Tal Loos. “The talent pool for these skill sets is very limited or non-existent, even among the current workforce because the technology is so new. As technology keeps moving into new and old aircraft, the need for this skill set will continue to grow as owners of aircraft want to retrofit their current aircraft with the latest and greatest technology.”
This program will relate to the College’s current aviation programs: Aviation Maintenance, Aircraft Structural, Luxury Craft Cabinetmaking, Upholstery and Trim, and Advance Airframe and/or Powerplant. Avionics training will give graduates a better understanding of wiring in aircraft and allow them to be better prepared to deal with current and future aircraft industry needs.
All instruction will be delivered in the state-of-the-art Aviation Training Center at the College’s Crossroads Campus. For information about STC’s Aviation programs, call 912.443.4094 or visit www.savannahtech.edu/AviationTechnology
STC Aviation Fast Facts:
- Savannah Technical College has graduated 1,159 students prepared for careers in aviation, with close to 90% of them gaining employment locally.
- The 29,152 square-foot Aviation Training Center includes a hangar, four training labs and five classrooms with a tarmac.
- 5,000-sq.-ft. hangar includes hoist, portable paint booth, ground support equipment, electro tug ground power unit and engine stands.
- The College was granted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to teach the Aviation Maintenance Technology program in 2014.
- The College owns three fully functional planes and a Gulfstream G100 aircraft that are used for instructional purposes and are housed at the Aviation Training Center.
Gulfstream’s support of the College’s $7.2-million campaign, “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity,” was part of the precision manufacturing priority. The campaign was led by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support the College.
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#1934 | March 19, 2019
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.
Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.