Southwestern Illionois College to Launch Avionics Certificate Program at Granite City Campus

By Carmelo Turdo

Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) will launch their new Aviation Electronics Technology (Avionics) Certificate Program in January 2025 at their Sam Wolf Granite City Campus. The program complements the existing Aviation Maintenance Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program, providing 45 semester hours of state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory training over 49 weeks. SWIC's Avionics Certificate Program is recognized by the Aircraft Electronics Association, and students will become eligible to take the Aircraft Electronics Technician Test after completion. 

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. 

Southwestern Illinois College is embarking on a bold, new Avionics Certificate Program to complement the existing Aviation Maintenance Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program. The Avionics Certificate Program is open to students as a stand-alone course, part of a comprehensive approach to aviation maintenance or contributing to a SWIC aviation degree program. Classes begin January 13, so contact SWIC to enroll.

Piston Aviation Hosts Christmas Party Flight Events at Both St. Louis Airport Locations

By Carmelo Turdo

Piston Aviation hosted Christmas party flight events last weekend at both flight training locations - Creve Coeur Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport. Since last year's event, Piston Aviation has added a second location and doubled their fleet to include Bristell and Tomark Viper light sport aircraft as well as Piper Cherokees, a Cessna 172 and 150, and a Piper Aztec twin. Both locations also offer flight simulation services, comfortable pilot lounges and flight planning workstations for the safety and convenience of their students and staff. Add some Christmas cheer to the usual fun atmosphere at Piston Aviation, and you have a great future in the skies!

The Creve Coeur Airport event was held on Saturday. The Grinch stole the good weather and left rain instead, so the party moved inside Piston Aviation's main hangar. Here we see visitors checking out the Bristell, Cherokee and Viper training fleet aircraft and flying the Redbird simulator. Discovery flights for Saturday's guests will be rescheduled, and the improving weather this week will provide more opportunities to get back into air! 

Sunday's event at St. Louis Regional Airport began under a low cloud ceiling that lifted and cleared the local area in the afternoon. Along with more antics from Mr. Grinch and enough sugar to make everyone sweet, flights were available in the Piper Cherokee and Bristell 912 later in the day. Here we feature the Piston Aviation staff starting the party in their recently remodeled facility and a young visitor's first general aviation flight in the Bristell.

The Aero Experience thanks Piston Aviation for hosting a great weekend of Christmas cheer and Midwest Aviation hospitality. Contact Piston Aviation today for more information about their flight training packages.

Leading Safety Management Systems Consultant Gives Briefing at Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association Luncheon

By Carmelo Turdo

The Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA) held their quarterly luncheon Friday at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. This last event of the year was a great opportunity to gather before the holiday season gets into full swing. Along with an essential professional development message and delicious food, local aviation businesses provided informative exhibits on their newest products and services. 

GSLBAA President, Tom Buffington, welcomed the attendees to the luncheon. He invited everyone to load up their plates at the buffet and check out the industry exhibitors before settling in for the guest speaker's presentation. 

Aerospace Services And Products (ASAP)

Travers & Associates Aviation Insurance Agency

Ideal Aviation Flight Training, KCPS

Garmin St. Louis Data Team

Wings of Hope Humanitarian Aviation Nonprofit

Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services

The guest speaker for this quarterly luncheon was Rick Malczynski, Founder and President of Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) based in Fort Worth, TX. For the past eight years, BASC has provided consulting services assisting corporate flight departments in developing and maintaining safety management systems (SMS) exceeding the industry standard. He brings a wealth of experience to his profession, having been ranked as the top International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Auditor for three consecutive years. While he sees the value of the IS-BAO auditing process, which does not provide for specific feedback from each audit discrepancy, he began independent consulting as a more comprehensive way of promoting a corporate aviation safety culture. 

One-hundred and fifty BASC corporate clients receive counseling services for developing and improving their SMS, adding value to their own flight department safety program. 

Malczynski and his staff promote a collaborative environment of open communication and progressive evaluation of the SMS, revisiting the process over a one-to-three-year period if necessary to accomplish the incomplete portions of the program.

"We call our Auditors, Facilitator-Auditors," Malczynski said during his presentation, "with the thought being you and your department know way more if something would be better for you than we would know just having read your books and come in and spend a day and a half with you. What a good Facilitator-Auditor does is facilitate discussion among that group to figure out what's the best way to do something...What could we do that we're already doing, and what can we do that brings more value to our organization."

The BASC style includes flexibility and collaboration throughout the process, while still meeting the high standards and operational requirements of the flight department. Reasonableness and commonsense are guiding factors in providing excellent customer service and desired product outcomes for each client. 

More information on their services and other resources can be found on the BASC website, and a free demo of services is also available. The Aero Experience thanks GSLBAA, BASC, the industry exhibitors and all who attended the quarterly luncheon for making it both enjoyable and educational. Check the GSLBAA website for upcoming events.