Aviation Maintenance Technician

Certificate

About this program

Ready to land a career in aviation? At Penn College, you’ll find an industry-driven curriculum that refines all the skills needed to become an airframe or powerplant maintenance technician. Coursework combines theory with real-world applications. And it includes lots of experience working through routine repairs and troubleshooting complex challenges with our College-owned fleet of aircraft.  

Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

FAA

Approved Repair Station

FAA Certified Curriculum and Facility

Hangar Facility Located at an Operational Airport

Careers

  • Commercial aviation 
  • General aviation 
  • Aviation repair stations 
  • Manufacturer’s services 
  • Helicopter technician
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • Aviation Practices I (AVI100)
  • Aviation Practices II (AVI105)
  • Aviation Fundamentals I (AVI110)
  • Aviation Fundamentals II (AVI115)
  • Aviation Science I (AVI120)
  • Aviation Basic Electricity I (AVI125)
  • Aircraft Reciprocating Engines (AVI140)
  • Aviation Science II (AVI130)
  • Aviation Basic Electricity II (AVI135)
  • Aircraft Turbine Engines (AVI145)
  • Aircraft Engine Fuel Metering Systems (AVI150)
  • Aircraft Engine Ignition Systems (AVI155)
  • Aircraft Engine Systems (AVI160)
  • Engine Electrical Systems (AVI165)
  • Aircraft Engine Troubleshooting & Inspection (AVI170)
  • Vintage Aircraft Structures (AVI200)
  • Sheet Metal Aircraft Structures (AVI205)
  • Composite Aircraft Structures (AVI210)
  • Airframe Systems I (AVI215)
  • Airframe Systems II (AVI220)
  • Rotary Wing Systems & Maintenance (AVI225)
  • Advanced Aircraft Electrical Systems (AVI230)
  • Airframe Electronic & Instrument Systems (AVI335)
  • Airframe Inspection (AVI340)

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Aviation Center
Facilities

Aviation Center

Gain hands-on experience working on a fleet of College-owned aircraft in a licensed repair facility for private aircraft - preparing you for your FAA Mechanical License.

Maker Profiles
Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Apr 7

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, April 7 8:30 AM - 3 PM

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Contact

Admissions Office

Industry Partners

Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

Lycoming logo
Member of Helicopter Association of International
SkyWest Airlines
Student Life

Stay active in and out of the classroom

PCT RC Club

PCT RC Club

Introduce the dynamics of aeronautics by applying theory to real life projects. These projects include RC builds; small and large scale, rocketry or anything that is designed to fly through the air.

Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Penn College News
03.01.2024

College's Transportation Scholars program featured on 'Centre County Report'

Friday’s “Centre County Report” featured a story on Penn College’s Transportation Scholars program. The weekly broadcast -- produced by students in the capstone broadcast journalism course in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State – included an interview with Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies.

02.23.2024

Penn College receives NSF grant to aid transportation workforce

Pennsylvania College of Technology is the recipient of a nearly $1.5 million federal grant to support students majoring in a transportation-related field. The National Science Foundation awarded $1,498,465 (grant No. 2221107) as part of its S-STEM program, which funds scholarships for academically talented low-income students.

02.20.2024

Business jet makes inspiring sojourn to Aviation Center

More than 90 aviation students experienced a Gulfstream G280 business jet last week, thanks to an alumnus and his employer: Constellation Brands Inc. Patrick Herring, who received an aviation maintenance technician certificate from the college in 2000, arranged for the twin-engine jet to travel from Rochester, New York, to the Lumley Aviation Center.

Gain global experience
Study Abroad

Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

Learn More

Our Leadership

Faculty Story

Aviation instructor sails to World Gliding Championships

Using the power of the atmosphere, glider pilot Michael R. Robison, a Penn College aviation instructor, soars among world-class competitors.

More Information

Certification: Federal Aviation Administration, approved under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 147.

The following grading system is applied to all AVI-designated courses. There is no rounding of grades.

A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89.99
C = 72 – 79.99
D = 70 – 71.99
F = 69.99 and below

View general transfer information

View the Aviation Maintenance Technician Tool List

Uniforms and tools are available for purchase through The College Store.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

  • Mr. James Brady, '85, Senior Manager, Quality Control, United Airlines
  • Mr. Christopher Burns, Director, Maintenance, Polari's Aviation Solution
  • Mr. Bradley T Cole, '07, '09, Supervisor, Maintenance, Corning Incorporated
  • Mr. Linh Do, '09, Aircraft Maintenance Lead Air Transportation Department, Air Products
  • Mr. Robert Evans, Training & Safety Director, Compliance Officer, Sterling Helicopter
  • Mr. Darrell Frey, President/CEO, New World Aviation
  • Mr. Christopher Gayman, '09, '10, Supervisor of Product Support, Lycoming Engines
  • Mr. Jeffery Gazey, '02, Director, Aviation Maintenance, Geisinger Health System
  • Mr. Joel A Glover, Director, Maintenance, Advanced Lancaster LP
  • Mr. Franklin A Hartman, '85, Delivery Manager, Airbus Airlines, Final Assembly Line
  • Mr. Terrence A Heim, '12, Halle Enterprises, Inc.
  • Mr. William Hertz, '95, CASS Manager, Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
  • Mr. Brian Katherman, '10, Manager Aviation Support, The Hershey Company
  • Mr. George F McKinney, Sr., Vice President, Air-Parts of Lock Haven, Inc.
  • Mr. Kevin Pannebakker, '12, Aircraft Mechanic, Classic Services, Inc.
  • Mr. Aaron Phillips, '06, Aircraft Technician, Pfizer Inc.
  • Mr. Douglas R Phillips, '12, Maintenance Manager, Executive Jet Management
  • Mr. William Snyder, '70, Federal Aviation Administration, Retired
  • Mr. S. Michael Vennie, Senior Director Technical Operations, Bighorn Airways, Inc.
  • Mr. Andrew D Zook, '02, '07, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor, Air Products and Chemicals
  • Career Fair Connections

    Career Fair Connections

    Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

    Learn More About Career Fair