The Aviation Structural Technician program is composed of training and course work that prepares students for a career as an Aviation Structural Technician.

This program provides students with broad and varied experience in aviation science and theory related to aircraft shop practice, maintenance, and repair. Students are prepared for a career as aircraft structural technicians and support personnel. Topics include flight line and shop safety, aircraft structures, metals, hand tools, and measuring devices, aircraft riveting, hardware, technical drawings, forming processes, structural repair, and corrosion control.

Occupations

  • Aviation Structural Technician

Entry Level Salary Range

  • $16.00 - $23.00 per hour

Licensure/Certification

Completion of this course may lead to advanced standing in the Adult Aviation Program at CV Tech.

Resources

  • Aircraft Structural Technician (Dale Hurst)
  • Texas Instruments TI30XIIS Calculator
  • A&P Technician General Textbook
  • A&P Technician Airframe Textbook
  • ASA General Test Guide
  • ASA Aircraft Inspection, Repair and Alterations AC43, 13 1B and 2B
  • Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR-AMT)

Local Program (High School Only Program)

Aviation Maintenance, OCAS 9879/9880
CoursesHoursOCAS
Regulations and Ground Operations1408884
Applied Sciences of Aircraft Maintenance1808886
Aviation Electricity1408887
Aircraft Materials and Corrosion Control1408885
Inspections and Human Factors60 
Metallic Structures135 
Non-Metallic Structures135 
Employment Readiness30 
Total Hours960 

Suggested Entry Level Skills

  • College reading level
  • Basic math skills
  • Algebra

Clothing Requirement

Students are expected to dress appropriately for the industry including, but not limited to, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Students will be expected to wear protective clothing designated by the instructor. Protective clothing includes aprons, hard hats, shoes covering feet, lab coats, gloves, goggles, and safety glasses. Failure to wear such protective clothing can result in dismissal.

Topics
Course General
AE A. Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics
ASAM B. Aircraft Drawings
ASAM C. Weight and Balance
ASAM D. Fluid Lines and Fittings
AMCC E. Aircraft Materials, Hardware and Processes
RGO F. Ground Operations and Servicing
AMCC G. Cleaning and Corrosion Control
ASAM H. Mathematics
RGO I. Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and Publications
ASAM J. Physics for Aviation
K. Inspection Concepts and Techniques
L. Human Factors
Airframe
A. Metallic Structures
B. Non-Metallic Structures
Employment Readiness (embedded)
A. Resume writing
B. Interviewing
C. Professional attire

Instructor and Program Information

I am happy to speak with students about grades, learning progress, classroom behavior, or any other questions or concerns you may have about the class. Email is the easiest way to contact me; I check email daily and try to respond within 24 hours. You can also call after school (3:15-4:15) to speak to me.

Grading

Semester grades are calculated by using total points.

Students will be assigned CMC grades that can transfer to the adult Aviation Maintenance Program. To pass a CMC course, a minimum of 70% is required.

Instructional Methods

Students are expected to meet the course goals and demonstrate their understanding of specific concepts. Various instructional strategies will be used: lecture, textbooks, digital handouts, hands-on practice with manipulatives, class discussions, Internet tutorials, leadership activities, guest speakers and special projects. Students will work independently and in groups. Assignments require students to use academic skills of reading, writing and math along with technical skills.

Safety

  • Safe operation of equipment and safe work habits will ensure the personal well being of students
  • Students must wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the task they are doing
  • Report any malfunction of equipment to the instructor immediately
  • Do not move or tamper with equipment; the equipment is set up and arranged in a necessary manner
  • Adhere to the safety practices of CV Tech as directed by faculty and staff and outlined in the student handbook.

Substitute

  • Follow all class policies and procedures; comply with substitute requests even if different from normal routine
  • Students will remain in class; no passes out of the room unless a student is requested by the office
  • For safety reasons; some programs may limit access to the shop or lab when there is a substitute
  • Help the substitute in any way you can and be a positive representative of CV Tech

Program Expectations

  • Speak kindly. Good communication with peers and instructors is an important skill. Actions such as gossiping, inappropriate joking, cursing, derogatory remarks, and disruptions are unprofessional and will not be tolerated.

  • Arrive ready. At scheduled start time, be in assigned seat and in uniform (if required).

  • Time on task. Spend time on task: participate in instructional activities, follow directions, work with peers, etc.

  • Clean. A clean work space is necessary for safety. Every student will clean as they go and clean at the end of the day.

  • Ask for help. It is normal to have questions about difficult sections of learning. Please ask for help by raising your hand to have a section explained again or ask to step into the office if you would like to speak privately.

  • Break Time. Use your break for personal business (restroom, phone calls, food, drink); you must go to the break area.

  • Cell phones. While cell phones are convenient, they are a distraction to your learning. Please put them on silent and put them in the designated location. Refer to the CVTC Student Handbook for the school policy.

  • Professional behavior. Display professional behavior at all times; this means no horseplay, yelling, etc.

  • Solve problems. If a discipline problem should arise, the steps below will be followed:
    1st Incident – Warning and in class student/teacher conference to find a solution to the problem
    2nd Incident – Student/teacher conference; conference may include administrator or counselor as needed
    3rd Incident – Administrator notified and consequence to be determined
    Severe disruptions or repeated problem behavior will result in removal from class and administrator notification

Shop and Hangar Policies

The labs and hangar are considered to be “shop areas” and aircraft are considered to be “shop equipment”. Therefore, labs, hangars, and aircraft mandate extra attention to safety policies and procedures.

Under no circumstances will any student perform any work unless specifically directed by an AMT instructor. No student will operate any aircraft without direct supervision of an AMT instructor. No cockpit or external switches and levers will be moved unless directed and approved by an AMT instructor. Any approval by an AMT instructor must contain explicit directions about the nature and intent of the action. All switches must be in the appropriate checklist shut down position. Working on an aircraft without instructor approval will be construed as tampering and is grounds for dismissal.

Course Achievement Tests

AMT students will be given comprehensive achievement tests at the end of the General, Airframe, and Powerplant sections. These written tests will include information given during all units in the section. A minimum passing grade of 85% must be achieved. These grades will stand alone and will not become part of any other grade. AMT students must pass the appropriate achievement tests to be eligible to take a FAA Written Exam for that section and to obtain a certificate of completion.

FAA Exams

Upon receiving a passing score on the achievement tests and obtaining a certificate of completion in the Adult Aviation course, a student is eligible to take a FAA Written Exam and a FAA Oral/Practical Exam.

To obtain an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic license from the FAA, students must pass a FAA Written Exam in each area, General, Airframe, and Powerplant, and take two Oral/Practical Exams. Once a student has passed the FAA Written Exam for both General and either Airframe or Powerplant, they are eligible to take an Oral/Practical Exam with a DME for those two subject areas. A second Oral/Practical Exam will be conducted with a DME for the remaining subject area.

CV Tech pays $350 of the students’ first Oral/Practical exam. CV Tech will not pay for retakes or missed exams. DME’s are independent contractors of the FAA and set their own fee and testing schedules.

CV Tech Student Handbook Topics

The instructor will discuss the following topics in the student handbook. The handbook can be accessed at cvtech.edu.

  • Daily Schedule
  • Attendance and Tardies
  • School Property and Textbooks
  • Supplies and Fees (fees for adults only)
  • Dress Code
  • Break Time
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Student Organizations
  • Work-Based Learning

DETAILS

Aviation Structural Technician program is composed of training and course work that prepares students for a career as an Aviation Structural Technician.

This program provides students with broad and varied experience in aviation science and theory related to aircraft shop practice, maintenance, and repair. Students are prepared for a career as aircraft structural technicians and support personnel. Topics include flight line and shop safety, aircraft structures, metals, hand tools, and measuring devices, aircraft riveting, hardware, technical drawings, forming processes, structural repair, and corrosion control.

OCCUPATIONS

  • Aviation Maintenance Technician

CERTIFICATIONS / LICENSURE

  • Aviation Structural Technician

AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - HIGH SCHOOL

A breakdown of individual courses if provided below.

COURSES HOURS
Introduction to Aviation 240
General480
Airframe 240
Total Hours 960

SEMESTER 1

Course Name

Hours
Shop Safety and Human Factors 20
Mathematics 36
Hand and Power Tools 44
Blueprints and Drawings 44
Sheet Metal 1A 48
Aircraft Drawings 36
Report Writing and Record Keeping 14

SEMESTER 2

Course Name

Hours
Hardware and Precision Measuring 36
Cleaning and Corrosion Control 40
Battery Service and Inspection 40
Materials and Processes and NDT 50
Sheet Metal 1B 44
Unmanned Aircraft Construction 30

SEMESTER 3

Course Name

Hours
Physics and Basic Aerodynamics 36
Aircraft Ground Handling and Servicing 30
Fluid Lines and Fittings 30
Basic Electricity and DC Circuits 58
Sheet Metal 2A 44
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 36

SEMESTER 4

Course Name

Hours

FAA Regulations and Publications36
AC Electrical Circuits58
Solid State Circuits36
Weight and Balance36
Sheet Metal 2B44
Resume Preparation and Interviewing30