New River Community and Technical College is developing a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) with an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) rating.
In a press conference on Tuesday, New River CTC President Dr. Bonny Copenhaver announced that the college is applying for a FAA start-up grant to assist the college in starting the program. Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanics are certified general mechanics who can independently perform many maintenance tasks on planes. They repair and maintain most parts of an aircraft, including the engines, landing gear, brakes, and air-conditioning system. The program will support manufacturing and innovation initiatives by working with the Raleigh County Memorial Airport and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. The college plans to start accepting students as early as January 2023.
“This is a step forward for the college and an example of the benefits of community partnerships in supporting economic development,” Copenhaver said. “We are pleased to be a part of the training needs from the job creation that will come from working with the Raleigh County Memorial Airport and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority.”
For students interested in continuing their education, New River CTC is working with West Virginia University Tech to provide a pathway to allow students to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in aviation management.
Both the Raleigh County Memorial Airport and the Greenbrier Valley Regional Airport are now classified as AEROReady™ regions, indicating that the infrastructure is in place to build this sector of the economy.
The college will be issuing a quarterly newsletter on the program development. Those interested in the program or signing up for the newsletter can email aviation_info@newriver.edu.
For information about other programs at New River CTC, visit www.newriver.edu, email admissions@newriver.edu or call 866-349-3739.
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia from the Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville) and Raleigh County Campus (Beaver).
