Aviation Program Choices Offer Training for Both Technician and Pilot Fields

According to Wikipedia, “aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft.” As such, Centennial College offers three aviation program choices that all fit under this umbrella. These programs either deal with the aviation and avionics mechanical aspect or the professional pilot area of the field.

The School of Transportation facilitates all three of Centennial College’s aviation program options. This School of study is based at Ashtonbee Campus, which is actually Canada’s largest transportation training centre. It not only includes labs for automotive service technicians but a fully functional aircraft hangar for aviation program students. This hangar is licensed by Transport Canada and boasts a “fleet” of 10 aircraft that are used as training aids by the pilot, aircraft technician and avionics technician students. Additionally, by studying from Ashtonbee Campus, aviation program students have access to tools of the trade and are given the opportunity to network with instructors, who have industry connections, as well as their fellow peers.

The first of the three aviation program choices is Professional Pilot Training. This offering allows students to develop the skills employers demand to pursue a career in various sectors of the aviation industry as commercial airline pilots, private aircraft pilots and flight instructors. It is offered as a collaboration with Durham Flight Centre (where students obtain flight practice). This aviation program consists of three phases (Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Multi Engine IFR Rating) and 530-hours (200 hours of flight experience and 330 hours of ground school).  Students of this aviation program have the opportunity to pilot Cessna 150, 172 and Piper Aztec aircraft.

Centennial College’s two mechanic-focused aviation program choices are both approved by Transport Canada and certified by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council as recognized aircraft maintenance-training programs. As such, the training obtained is well respected in the field and graduates of these avionics programs find work with: manufacturers, airlines, aircraft, electronic and avionics maintenance companies; and other Canadian aviation operations.

The first such aviation program is Aviation Technician – Aircraft Maintenance program, which focuses on teaching aircraft maintenance, power plant structures, inspections, troubleshooting, mechanical, electrical and electronic applications. Students also acquire other sciences related to aircraft maintenance. Priding itself on hands-on training, students of this aviation program spend a significant amount of time is on practical application in labs working on aircraft engines, conducting aircraft and component inspections in a maintenance environment and performing flight-line activities.

The final aviation program is Aviation Technician – Avionics Maintenance. The emphasis is on the aircraft’s various electronic systems: electrical power distribution and control, navigation, flight instrumentation, communication and radar. As with Aircraft Maintenance, students learn through a combination of theoretical lectures and lab sessions, which include work on various aircraft. Aviation maintenance servicing practices and procedures, as well as aviation regulation requirements round out training in this aviation program.