AUGUSTA, Maine — This fall, the University of Maine at Augusta is set to launch a new aviation program geared toward mechanics and technicians.
It's called the Aviation Maintenance Technician School and the program is the first of its kind in the state.
Maria Wilcox has been in the field for several years. She got her love for aviation from growing up near the Loring Air Force Base. Now, Wilcox is taking her knowledge into the classroom to teach the first AMTS class.
"This program is designed to help students get their airframe and power plant license through the classes, and then they'll be able to go out in the workforce and work on any airframe they would like," Wilcox said.
The program won't be taught at the Augusta Campus, instead, classes will be held in hangar six at the Brunswick Landing Aviation Campus.
Program Director Daniel LeClair says this program can help fill a void in the state's workforce.
"We have found there are companies, businesses, that are not coming to Maine because of a lack of aviation workforce," LeClair said. "There are 32 airports in the state of Maine, and there are businesses that will either repair engines or work on aircraft. The need for aviation maintenance technicians is huge right now. One aviation company just spent one year looking for an aviation technician before they were able to get one."
The course couples hands-on experience with a classroom setting that uses some extra tools like virtual reality.
"The benefits of having hands-on class is you get to touch the aircraft instead of just talking about you get to do the task you were talking about before in classes," Wilcox said.
LeClair says aviation techs can wear many hats on the job. "Doing inspections on an aircraft to fixing things that are broken on an aircraft, to helping develop modifications," LeClair said.
According to the university, companies have already started reaching out to potentially hire students from this program.
That's why completing the course will take five semesters.
"There is such a large curriculum that the FAA requires, so having those five semesters breaks it up into each section for your airframe and power plant, and then it gets you everything you need to know to get the basis of your license," Wilcox said.
The first class of the AMTS program will graduate in 2026.
"Aviation is such a great field to be in, and then those people who are living in Maine and really want to be in the field can do it locally and don't have to go elsewhere to get their education," Wilcox said.
Once the program gets off the ground, Leclair says as many as 75 students will graduate every year. Once they do, they'll immediately be able to take exams to be FAA-certified.