Successful Training Programs
To Learn More About ATTE Training
The calendar on this site provides a listing of planned technical training programs and key contacts. In addition each ATTE Center may be offering or developing new programs, so the key here would again be to contact a Center Director. Even if you do not see or readily find technical training opportunites, contact the ATTE HUB Directors or the Statewide Director as new programs can be developed to meet your needs.
Bell Helicopter - Keeping Faculty in the Technology Race
One continuing challenge to all vocational programs lies in keeping up with the latest technology. This challenge comes in many forms - maintaining instructor currency, acquiring the latest equipment being used by industry, or being able to offer training that is recognized by industry partners.
Sacramento City College's Aeronautics Department, in conjunction with the ATTEi Center, has solved these problems. The department was able to sign a partnership agreement with its industry partner, the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BHTA). As Bell Helicopter, a division of the Textron Corporation, sets the world standard for helicopters, for the past 60 years its educational arm has set the global benchmark for helicopter pilot and maintenance technician training.
Like that academy, SCC's Aeronautics Program has long been involved in aviation training. Since the program's inception in 1932, thousands of its graduates have risen to leadership positions in the aviation field.
BHTA has agreed to allow selected SCC Aeronautics Department Professors to attend training courses at its Fort Worth, Texas facility, as well as assist with acquiring support technical data and training aids. BHTA has also agreed to allow a specified number of Bell Helicopter courses to be taught at SCC. Students completing this factory-authorized training at SCC will find a waiting job market for its newly acquired technical skills, as currently there is a shortage of qualified, factory-trained technicians and pilots.
In a first-ever agreement, SCC's BHTA students also will be able to receive college credit for these courses, which can be applied toward a certificate, an Associate degree or a Bachelor degree.
This partnership represents the type of forward-looking agreement for which all highly technical programs should strive. The biggest winners in this academic-industrial partnership will be the students who participate, who will graduate with the most current training available. Participating students will also have the security of knowing that they will be able to find employment in their chosen field, and will be the first pick of employers.
The helicopter industry wins, too, because of the increased supply of new and incumbent workers. The Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) throughout the State of California will benefit, as well.
In this era of tight fiscal budgets, the people of California will be gaining the most for the training dollars they have invested in our community college system. This partnership should be a model that could be emulated by other vocational programs at other California community colleges.
For more information contact Phil Cypret at cypretp@scc.losrios.edu
United Airlines - RTF Program Assists United Airlines, Exceeds Goals
Rising fuel costs challenge every airline to become more efficient. In addition, competition - from domestic low-cost air carriers and from international airlines with lower wage structures - present a severe challenge to such air carriers as United Airlines (UA), the largest employer in San Mateo County and, with over 10,000 employees, one of the world's largest carriers. To stay competitive, grow its employment, rehire furloughed employees, and expand its contract maintenance work for other airlines, United is seeking to reduce costs substantially and continuously via a Lean transformation program.
United's process-improvement program has been assisted by an EWD Responsive Training Fund for Incumbent Workers (RTF) grant obtained in cooperation with City College of San Francisco's (CCSF) ATTE program. As United, once a major employer for graduates of CCSF's Aeronautics Program, improves its maintenance program's competitiveness, new, trained employees will be required, and that need will grow as this RTF-supported training improves the airline's performance.
This RTF-supported effort exceeded its educational and public information goals. The grant provided funding for 160 supervisors, managers and rank-and-file employees to take part in the Lean program training; eight (8) training cycles, each 56 hours long, were scheduled with 20 employees each. A successful outcome for participants was determined to be a 90-percent pass rate on the final (industry-standard) exam. Employees who did not attend all training were dropped from the program.
By the program's close in June, 181 participants had taken part - 13 percent over target. The original 56-hour training cycle was expanded to 72 hours at the same cost to EWD; United absorbed the additional employee time and program costs as added commitment to this joint effort. The overall pass rate for graduates was 88 percent - just below target. This grant supported over 50 percent more student-hours of training than had been proposed.
In addition, EWD and CCSF were acknowledged for their support by United's management at a national industry conference hosted at the maintenance facility in October 2007. UA-CCSF cooperation was further enhanced when CCSF's ATTE director participated in one of the Lean graduation ceremonies, and United has invited ATTE to represent the Community College System at its Family Day activities. This participation provides us display space to promote a wide variety of Continuing Technical Education (CTE) programs to thousands of youth and their parents.
Well-conceived and executed programs benefit employers, colleges and California's workforce.
For more information contact Gerry Bernstein at GBernste@ccsf.edu
Tesla Roadster - Highlight of Industry Tour
ATTE Directors quarterly meetings provide an opportunity for touring related businesses and operations to stay ahead of industry training requirements. Following our First Quarter 2007-2008 meeting, Tesla Motors in San Carlos conducted a tour for ATTE Directors and CCSF auto program faculty.
Tesla has generated enormous buzz in automotive and _environmental circles. Auto enthusiasts appreciate the all-electric two-seat Roadster's 0-to-60 acceleration in 4 seconds with only a 2-speed transmission - no reverse gear is needed as the electric motor simply operates backward. For the environmentally inclined, it offers 135 mpg equivalent efficiency while traveling over 200 miles on each electric charge. The electric drive contributes to an overall _"well-to-wheel" efficiency (conversion of energy extracted from the earth or sun to the road), more than twice that of the Prius, with a cost of only 2 cents of electricity per mile (compared to over 10 _cents per mile in a typical, new production gasoline-powered car).
The car has been receiving accolades and superstar attention since its announcement. Time magazine identified the roadster as one of the "Best Inventions in 2006." All this, even though the first customer delivery is not expected until the end of this year. To date, approximately 600 orders have been received.
The ATTE tour focused on the design, production and service requirements for the Roadster. The aluminum body is assembled using aircraft-like construction techniques. This is combined with the 900 pound battery pack and other components on a steel frame. Although the design center is in San Carlos, the production is in Taiwan and the UK (through an agreement with Group Lotus). Future domestic production is likely to be in New Mexico. Service will be provided through the dealers, and maintenance technicians will need to combine traditional skills (wheel & brakes, suspensions) with newer skills for maintaining the electric drive system components.
Unfortunately, despite high interest, none of us on the tour was able to spring for a new Roadster at its present $98,000 price. We await the reported 4-door family model at approximately half this price expected in a few years, or the even more-affordable third generation model when it arrives hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
NASA Eases Workload with ATTE Sac City Airframe & Powerplant Students Work on Ex-airline DC-8
NASA, in conjunction with U.C. Davis, operates an ex-airline DC-8. Twenty-one years ago, the role of this transport-category aircraft forever changed. NASA acquired the aircraft to do groundbreaking scientific research utilizing scientists in various disciplines from U.C. Davis as well as selected scientists from other world-class universities.
The competition is intense, from scientists vying for one of the twenty or so slots available on each flight. These flights take place several times a year, to locations such as the Antarctic, Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Flights are conducted as low as 500 feet above the ground or ocean and as high as 42,000 feet.
One of the major areas of interest is Global Atmospheric and Oceanographic research. There is intense scientific study in areas such as global warming, current shifts, the jet stream, and worldwide air pollution.
A DC-8 is only slightly smaller than the Boeing 747. An aircraft of this size and complexity requires extensive maintenance and alteration between these scientific flights. Safety is, of course, of paramount importance. NASA employs five highly experienced Airframe and Powerplant mechanics to handle the maintenance as well as install and remove the ever-changing scientific research instrumentation. _Each of these installations is unique according to the scientist and project involved. These are cutting-edge, highly sophisticated, delicate measuring devices and other tools such as lasers, pressure and temperature instrumentation, air sniffers, and devices for tracking currents and temperatures of the ocean. There is no precedent for this type of work.
In order to alleviate the extensive workload on these highly skilled aircraft technicians, Sacramento City College's Aeronautics Department signed a Memo of Understanding to provide five of our best Airframe and Powerplant students. Each of these students is assigned to a different technician in order to work directly under their supervision.
Students work nearly full-time, leaving work in the late afternoon to attend evening classes back on campus from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. every weeknight. The experience gained on the various systems has been invaluable. These systems include avionics, hydraulics, pneumatics, pressurization, fire detection/protection, and engines.
This completely unique experience puts these students far ahead of their contemporaries when seeking employment after graduation. Experience has not been the only benefit of the job. Students were paid very well and received a standard benefit package. Over the summer, the aircraft was deployed to Costa Rica, and yes, the students traveled with the aircraft. Hotel and meals were covered by per diem, as well as salary - not a bad summer job!
Upon graduation from the Aeronautics program two of the students were offered permanent positions with this continuing project. This is an example of how the ATTEi Center and industry partners can work together to benefit program graduates, the industry, and the environment.
