Edited release/Hunter
07/13/23
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, in conjunction with approval from the Iowa Department of Education, signifies that the program can officially enroll students and classes can begin this fall.
The announcement follows a lengthy application process originally started 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 that the program curriculum aligned with its Airman Certification Standards, which the FAA uses to measure performance for certifications or ratings.
In a release from the community college, President Lori Sundberg said that with the final stamp of approval from the FAA, the program can begin to address the need for aviation maintenance workers. She said, “With air travel demands now at pre-pandemic levels, the sooner we can make an impact, the better.”
The college’s hangar is undergoing renovations designed to accommodate the program. Once finished, the facility will feature lab and classroom space in addition to an updated building infrastructure such as HVAC, restrooms and other contemporary features.
With construction expected to run through the remainder of the year, the program will begin by 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 as well. The project is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the spring 2024 semester.
For more information about the Aviation Maintenance Technology program, go to www.kirkwood.edu/aviationmaintenancetechnology.
The Gazette reports Kirkwood’s Board of Trustees are meeting today to consider breaking an agreement with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency, who are leasing space at Kirkwood’s Coralville regional center. Kirkwood will reimburse Grant Wood $1.7 million of the $2 mllion, 50-year lease to take control over the space, which they need after closing its Iowa City campus.