Advanced Manufacturing Training & Education Center( AMTEC)
Everett Community College not only the hosts the Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing COE, it also exposes students to the full manufacturing cycle of degrees and certificates from its modern 54,000 square foot AMTEC, and its Aviation Maintenance Technology and Advanced Avionics programs housed in 48,000 square feet of space at the Snohomish County Airport. Students learn from knowledgeable and experienced instructors, tapping into up-todate curriculum and utilizing software and tools provided in part through private company donations.
Washington Aerospace Training & Research Center( WATRC)
The WATR Center is managed by Edmonds Community College through an operating agreement with the Aerospace Futures Alliance( AFA). Originally opening in 2010 as an educational resource for careers in the aerospace and manufacturing industry, WATRC is all about providing innovative and relevant aerospace courses of study to meet the demands of the fast-paced industry. The center offers several educational programs in aerospace manufacturing, tooling, and composites— designed to provide students the highest quality skills necessary for high-paying jobs in the shortest amount of time.
Aerospace Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training
SCC’ s alternative offering is through their Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training Center, that works directly with the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee. This committee offers on-the-job training to students that may not have the luxury of, or desire for, being a full-time student and prefer to learn while earning a wage.
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee( AJAC)
Washington State devised a plan with the implementation of AJAC in 2008, to leverage the years of experience, valuable knowledge, and skills of the current workforce, into training the next generation. AJAC is a statewide, nonprofit aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship program with designed apprenticeships for:
1. Aircraft Machinist 2. Aircraft Mechanic Airframe 3. Precision Metal Fabricator 4. Tool and Die Maker 5. Industrial Maintenance Mechanic 6. Plastic Process Technician
Aviation Maintenance Technology( AMT)
Community Colleges of Spokane, Washington’ s largest community college, offers a dual-fold approach by tapping into two different program offerings. Spokane Community College( SCC), one of CCS’ s two Spokane schools, is home of an established FAA approved Aviation Maintenance Technology program that provides Airframe Maintenance, General Aircraft Maintenance and Powerplant Maintenance certifications. The program is in two hangars at Felts Field Airport, allowing for rare hands-on experience in a live setting. The school also offers additional courses in manufacturing, composites, electronics / avionics, aircraft maintenance, welding, CNC machining, and sheet metal.
The apprenticeships encourage employers to enroll existing workers in programs as a long-term training plan, and to offer students a hands-on learning opportunity. AJAC’ s participants not only obtain journey-level certification as master tradespersons, but also have an opportunity to achieve an associate’ s degree that can transfer into four-year degree programs.
Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute
Oregon State University has a focus on Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering graduate and undergraduate programs. Oregon may be peripheral to the workforce demands of its neighbors to the North, but it still feels the shock wave requiring a workforce skilled in industrial mechanical and manufacturing technologies.
12 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS