Become a Helicopter Mechanic, Fulfill Your Dream |
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By Alex Russel
alex.russel@hqpublications.com
Technician Programs Coulmnist
For many, an aviation job is a childhood dream, a distant possibility, like being an astronaut or a major league baseball player. But of all the dream jobs, aviation jobs are probably the most attainable.
In fact, if you have a high school diploma, all you need is about a year and a half at a FAA licensed aviation school and you can join an industry that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will only expand in the foreseeable future.
A helicopter mechanic is an aviation job with career potential that is steadily rising. Helicopter mechanic jobs are proliferating. And if you enroll in the Advanced Electronics (Avionics) program at Westwood College, you will be perfectly prepared to start a long and fruitful aviation career*.
*Available at Denver campus only
Helicopter Mechanic Jobs Outlook
Opportunities for fully certified helicopter mechanics should be excellent in coming years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, aircraft mechanic work is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012, and large numbers of additional job openings should arise from the need to replace experienced aircraft mechanics who retire.
Helicopter travel and usage is on the increase as well. Police departments, firefighters, news departments, and tourist attractions are increasingly using helicopters. Helicopters are a primary means of combat and transportation in the armed services, as well. All of these professions need helicopter mechanics.
From Advanced Electronics Technology (Avionics) to Airframe & Powerplant Programs - A Wide Range of Helicopter Courses
Although a few people become helicopter mechanics through on-the-job training, most learn their job in 1 of about 200 trade schools certified by the FAA.
Westwood College's Denver campus is an excellent example of such a program.
Located in the foothills of the Rockies, the Denver campus helps graduates from its Advanced Electronics Technology (Avionics)
program find aviation jobs shortly after graduation. Companies hiring from its student body include internationally recognized airline companies, including American Airlines and United Airlines. Graduates of Westwood avionics programs have also worked for aviation companies such as Boeing and technology giant, Hewlett Packard.
Most importantly, however, FAA standards require that certified mechanic schools offer students a minimum of 1,900 actual class hours. Westwood provides each student at least 2,100 hours before graduation. Thus, Westwood graduates have surpassed FAA requirements and are fully prepared for career demands.
Interestingly, coursework in most aviation schools normally lasts from 24 to 30 months. For the program at Westwood, 2,100 hours of training is scheduled into 17½ months, and this is without sacrificing quality or depth of training. Westwood's aviation program is specifically designed to prepare its students to earn competitive salaries as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Westwood strives to offer its students other services as well. At Westwood College of Aviation Technology, financial aid is available to those who qualify, and Westwood maintains a full-service financial aid department. Talk to a financial aid advisor about VA loans, alternative loans and scholarships that could be available to you if you qualify. Westwood actively seeks to make the program affordable to its applicants.
*Available at Denver campus only.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos179.htm, 2004.
- Ibid
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