Avionics

Avionics is almost every aspect of the aircraft Avionics are the electrical and computer systems which control and guide modern aircraft. Pima Community College has launched a new avionics program at the Aviation Technology Center located on the grounds of the Tucson International Airport. The important thing about aviation electronics technicians is he needs to know how the airplane operates better than the pilots. On a recent tour of the new facility guests saw many of the new hands-on training aids which includes cockpit simulators, instruments and test equipment. The program is designed to train students how to install, calibrate and test electronic components in aircraft. The new program is part of a $2.8 million dollar Title V grant from the Department of Education. With the Title V grant we have been able to uh... building brand new lab and a classroom area, and we're getting ready to start our first, full class of avionics technicians. The new program is aimed to meet the growing demand for avionics technician skilled the navigational control and communication systems. Aircraft themselves have been maturing and so are their systems. It's almost not enough just to be an airframe and powerplant mechanic anymore. You need to have additional training in avionics. So much of the aircraft now is run through centralized computers and that means you're really going to have to have a good handle on the navigation communication but the systems of the aircraft as well too. Pima College offers programs in the areas of aircraft structural repair plus airframe and power plant technology. It's a great added program to give our technicians, our graduating technicians that extra kick, that extra level of training that makes them stand out from a lot of other technicians and technical schools. The college will offer three avionics certificate programs and an associate of applied science degree. For more information about this program or any other Pima College program call 206-4500 or visit www.pima.edu