President Reed addresses state aviation conference

Michael J. Reed, president of Pennsylvania College of Technology, addressed the Opening General Session of the 44th annual conference of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, held Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Williamsport. Delivering the keynote address at the session was Michael B. Carroll, state secretary of transportation.  

Reed noted the college’s “long history of serving the aviation industry dating back to the 1930s, when an aviation technology program trained the employees of Lycoming Engines, a major manufacturer of aircraft engines, based right here in Williamsport. That effort continues today with our Penn College degree and certificate programs producing highly skilled graduates to service and maintain the aircraft on which we all travel. And, by the way, one-third of Lycoming Engines’ current employees are Penn College graduates, including 40% of the company’s manufacturing team.”

The college president had been introduced to the audience by Shannon Massey, senior vice president and general manager of Lycoming Engines. Among others speaking at the general session was state Sen. Gene Yaw, chair of the Penn College Board of Directors, who delivered a virtual address. 

Penn College offers three options for students pursuing careers in the aviation industry: a Bachelor of Science in aviation maintenance technology, an Associate of Applied Science in aviation technology, and a certificate for aviation maintenance technician. The programs, which are accredited by the National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies, are currently filled to capacity and waitlisted. There is a 100% graduate-placement rate within the industry, with graduates holding positions with airlines, aircraft manufacturers, aerospace subcontractors, fixed-base operators, helicopter aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration and more.

“All of our efforts focus on addressing the critical and well-documented nationwide shortage of skilled aviation maintenance professionals – the workers who install, test, adjust and repair equipment and systems in aircraft,” Reed said. “At Pennsylvania College of Technology, we pride ourselves on heeding and responding to the ever-changing needs of business and industry. We are doing that for the aviation industry by producing graduates who can rapidly mitigate the shortfall in the number of skilled maintenance mechanics and technicians, with no additional training needed after graduation.”

On Monday, conference attendees enjoyed tours of Penn College’s Lumley Aviation Center, Williamsport Regional Airport, Lycoming Engines and Energy Aviation. The college’s 50,000-square-foot facility, adjacent to the airport, features a hangar and a fleet of 20 aircraft used for instructional purposes, including a donated Boeing 727 cargo plane, a Bombardier CL-600 Challenger jet, a Dassault Falcon corporate jet and four different helicopters.

The theme for this year’s ACP conference is “Wings of Unity: Navigating the Future of Aviation.” The conference runs Oct. 7-9 in Williamsport.

A nonprofit trade association representing the aviation industry since 1960, the ACP consists of airports, fixed-base operators, flight schools, business aircraft operators, aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, air charter operators, and other aviation organizations and suppliers working together to improve and promote the aviation industry throughout the commonwealth.