New River Community and Technical College has been awarded $300,000 in federal funds to support the development of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) with an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) rating.
“We are grateful for the support of Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Congresswoman Carol Miller in supporting our work toward the development of an aircraft maintenance program in Raleigh County,” said College President Dr. Bonny Copenhaver. “The new program will support manufacturing and innovation initiatives working with our partners at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority.”
The funds will be applied toward building a facility at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport.
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 college plans to start accepting students as early as January 2023.
For students interested in continuing their education, New River CTC is working with West Virginia University Tech to provide a pathway allowing students to build on their training and earn a bachelor’s degree in aviation management.
Both the Raleigh County Memorial Airport and the Greenbrier Valley Regional Airport are classified as AEROReady™ regions, indicating that the infrastructure is in place to build this sector of the economy.
The college has created a quarterly newsletter to share announcements related to 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.
