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| By Carmelo Turdo |
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| Instructor Nick Mansker and Aviation Flight Management Coordinator Keith Mueller |
"Avionics is a huge segment of aviation maintenance, primarily involved with the navigation and communication systems on aircraft," Keith Mueller, SWIC's Coordinator of Aviation Flight Management and Aircraft Dispatcher Programs, told The Aero Experience. "This area, especially, has a significant need for more and more aviation maintenance and avionics related personnel with a large number of facilities here in the St. Louis area." He added that within 50 miles of St. Louis, there are over forty organizations in need of avionics technicians. In addition, there are many more positions open in aircraft production, interior finishing, and all levels of aircraft maintenance and inspection. West Star Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace and the Boeing Company are expanding their operations at St. Louis Regional Airport, St. Louis Downtown Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
Mueller and Avionics instructor Nick Mansker are putting the final touches on a brand new, state-of-the-art avionics classroom and hands-on lab suite that will be used for the first session starting January 13. Mansker brings a wealth of experience to SWIC's Avionics Certificate Program. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2015, with additional Department of Defense work as a civilian employee. He has been promoting SWIC's program at career fairs and open houses this year as he solidified the curriculum and acquired the impressive training equipment featured here.
"Our program is set up to where we go all the way from the very beginning of basic electronics and getting into the mathematics that it takes to do this kind of work," Mansker explained. "And then we have a 101 course that talks about the aircraft and the basics of the avionics systems. Then we get into DC and AC circuits and talk about microprocessors and go all into computing before we start working on the actual systems on the aircraft." System installation, wiring, troubleshooting and testing are taught in detail during the certificate program.
"So, when you're done with this course," Mansker continued, "you are able to go out and get a job working for one of the manufacturers around here or for one of the airlines as a repairman type technician with the AET Certification that we're preparing people for." Significant numbers of immediate openings are available for qualified applicants in our area.
In the lab, student workstations will be equipped with individual monitors for the day's lesson as well as a complete set of tools, including an industrial-quality soldering unit. Aspen Avionics Evolution Primary Flight Displays are also available, and supplies such as wiring and associated hardware were donated by industry sponsors.
Avotek AS76 Cockpit Instrumentation System Trainer
This training device simulates the functioning of both legacy vacuum instruments and modern electronic flight information system displays found in most aircraft. The instruments reflect the movement of the panel acting as the aircraft in pitch, roll and yaw. They can also be affected by changes in barometric pressure in the pitot static system through manipulation of the chamber on the stand below the panel. Instructors can induce faults on the system to set up troubleshooting scenarios for the students.
Avotek AV22 Avionics Systems Trainer
This training device provides an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) panel to demonstrate modern instrument approaches and aviation radio systems. The students have test points to complete on the wiring bundles behind the panel and with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) test set. The instructor can induce failures on each display, providing a realistic environment for the students.
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