AMERICUS — The Delta Air Lines Foundation is providing South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) and the SGTC Foundation with a restricted grant of $50,000 to enhance SGTC’s aviation maintenance technology curriculum development, projects and material support, to increase students’ awareness, knowledge and skills of avionics/electrical and composite structures.
Earlier this year, SGTC officials signed a partnership agreement with Delta Air Lines that allows the college to be designated as a Delta-selected preferred training institution for airframe & powerplant (A & P) mechanics. SGTC is Georgia’s oldest aviation school and its rich history makes it one of the oldest aviation training facilities in the United States.
“On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at South Georgia Technical College, I would like to thank Delta Air Lines for the opportunity to enter into this partnership with our aviation maintenance and avionics technology program,” said SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D. “I also want to thank The Delta Air Lines Foundation for this generous grant that will provide additional training materials for the aviation and avionics students on our Americus campus. South Georgia Tech has a rich history of outstanding aviation maintenance education. Our college been offering aviation training since the school opened in 1948. Even prior to being designated as a school, our grounds were utilized as an aviation training base during World War I and World War II.”
“This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for the South Georgia Technical College aviation maintenance technology and avionics maintenance technology students to be able to align their skill sets with elite industry standards and be considered for employment by regional and mainline aviation carriers upon graduation,” added Watford.
Under the partnership agreement, Delta leaders are invited to attend and participate in the SGTC aviation and avionics maintenance technology advisory board meetings to provide the college with updates on training curriculum as well as offer aircraft and avionics materials to the college for student practice and training.
Additionally, SGTC will continue to promote a safety culture and identify and arrange introductions of its top-performing aviation maintenance students to Delta leaders. The college will also help facilitate meet and greets with students, educating them on opportunities and employment benefits of regional and mainline aviation carriers and expand marketing efforts to make the public more aware of aviation career opportunities.
The aviation maintenance technology and avionics maintenance technology programs at SGTC are six terms in length and new applications are accepted fall and spring semesters. SGTC has a 99 percent job placement rate for graduates.
Students in the AMT program receive an introduction to the occupational area of aviation maintenance as currently understood and practiced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mechanic certificate holders with airframe and/or powerplant ratings. The combined powerplant and airframe curriculum is designed to provide students with the technical knowledge and skills required to diagnose problems and repair aircraft powerplants, both reciprocating and turbine, their systems and components; and airframes, both metal and wood, their systems and components. Satisfactory completion of all program courses entitles students to participate in FAA powerplant and airframe examinations and certification processes.
The avionics maintenance technology program emphasizes a combination of aircraft, airframe and avionics theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Program graduates receive an avionics maintenance technology diploma that qualifies them as avionic technicians and prepares them to sit for the FAA Airframe certification exams as well as the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and General Radio Operating License (GROL) exam.
For more information about enrolling in the South Georgia Technical College Aviation and Avionics Maintenance Technology programs, visit www.southgatech.edu or call 229-931-2394. Registration for fall semester is Aug. 16. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 20. SGTC has on-campus housing available.
The Delta Air Lines Foundation is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1968, to enhance Delta’s charitable giving. The Foundation is focused on the key areas of education and health and wellness.
The Foundation’s grants complement Delta’s efforts to give back to communities worldwide. As part of its annual giving, Delta is committed to invest one percent of its net income into communities across the globe. Delta’s giving is guided by its key pillars of education, global health and wellness, and supporting armed service members and veterans.