Northwest Aerospace News February | March 2018 Issue No. 1 | Page 51

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE SPOTLIGHT
Advanced Avionics at Everett Community
College is focused on short-term training for
aviation maintenance and avionics techni-
cians, with a focus on hands-on training that
will lead to jobs in FAA certified repair shops.
Prosch said that the ability to conduct day-
to-day troubleshooting and avionics repair
is highly requested from industry. “People
who can offer deeper skills in soldering,
electronics, and troubleshooting are fulfilling
important roles,” he said.
The concept of the “glass cockpit” simply
means that the cockpit is computerized, and
includes advanced technology like GPS, and
point and click demands for pilots, such as
we’ve come to expect in our daily lives on
our tablets and computers.
The colleges in the consortium are using
a Learning Management System (LMS)
called Nida, which provides “a complete
line of training equipment and courseware
for electronics including basic electronics,
avionics…and much more.” The LMS allows
Photo credit: Derek Walker, Everett Community College
each college to buy electronic “trainers” that
can be used for hands-on simulations in the
classroom.
Stidwell and others in his program are getting
hired while still in college, by Aviation Tech-
nical Services (ATS) in Everett. He said that
he goes to class from 8 am–2:30 pm every
day, and then starts work at ATS from 3:45
pm–2:15 am. “I have gotten a couple of guys
hired at ATS right now; if you can make the
schedule work for you, once you are done
getting your A&P license, you can hit the
industry running.”
The high-demand need, and training ramp-up
in Washington will lead to open job fulfill-
ment in our state, and according to Prosch,
there could be opportunity within other states
as well once workers have completed this
training. “People can be trained here and end
up working for Delta in Atlanta, or wherever
there is a major hub for airlines or mainte-
nance. United has a hub in Seattle, as does
SkyWest and other airlines,” Prosch added.
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