Kirkwood Community College’s new Aviation Maintenance Technology program has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to become a certified aviation maintenance school.
The certification, with approval from the Iowa Department of Education, allows the program to register students and enroll students in classes this fall.
The announcement follows an application process that originally began in late 2021. In addition to the necessary paperwork, the FAA held an on-site inspection of Kirkwood’s equipment and facilities, including the college’s hangar at the Eastern Iowa Airport.
The agency also determined the program curriculum aligned with its Airman Certification Standards, which the FAA uses to measure performance for certifications or ratings.
To Kirkwood President Lori Sundberg, the FAA approval was the last major hurdle to making the Aviation Maintenance Technology program a reality.
“We’re very excited that we just received FAA approval for our new program,” Ms. Sundberg said in a statement. “Without it we would not have been able to move forward, even if we had met all other requirements. Now that we have it, the final steps are being taken and we can start to address this major industry and workforce need. With air travel demands now at pre-pandemic levels, the sooner we can make an impact, the better.”
Construction continues at Kirkwood
Currently, the college’s hangar is undergoing renovations designed to accommodate the program. The facility will feature lab and classroom space with an updated building infrastructure such as HVAC, restrooms and other contemporary features when it’s completed.
With construction expected throughout 2023, the program will begin holding classes at the Kirkwood Continuing Education and Training Center, located just north of the college’s main campus in southwest Cedar Rapids. Another hangar located adjacent to the one currently under construction will be temporarily utilized. The project is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the spring 2024 semester.
According to Ms. Sundberg, it has taken a lot of time, energy and dedication to get to the program to this point.
“This is not your average program,” she said. “A lot of different pieces needed to fall into place in order to make it possible. From working with the Eastern Iowa Airport, to getting both public and private funding, to finding the right hangar and renovating it, to getting the approval of both the Department of Education and the FAA, it’s been a challenge for sure.”
For more information about the Aviation Maintenance Technology program, visit Kirkwood’s website.
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