It has been over a decade since the Aviation Maintenance Technology program began at West-MEC, but this is the first time a first-year student can take the general written exam. This exam acts as a prerequisite to be able to test for airframe and powerplant certifications. Students used to learn the skills for this exam in their first year but would have to wait until their second year at West-MEC to take the general written exam.
But, due to some recent Federal Aviation Administration requirement changes, students can now take the test in their first year, creating an easier pathway for students to earn their credentials, and first-year student Hayden Bradley blazed new trails for his peers and future aviation students for years to come.
Bradley is the first first-year student in West-MEC history to pass the general written exam, which tests students on skills such as basic electricity, cleaning and corrosion control, fluid lines and fittings, and other core skills an aviation mechanic needs to know.
Bradley was grateful for the opportunity and has loved his time at West-MEC.
“It feels good to pass the test because it’ll make the second year a bit easier. It puts us ahead because we don’t have to wait almost a year to take the test,” said Bradley. “The hands-on training is a lot more fun than learning in a traditional classroom setting. I learned about West-MEC from a friend of mine who is interested in the same things as me and am so happy I gave it a shot.”
Since Bradley passed the test, ten other students and counting have accomplished this as well, and Bradley’s AMT instructor, Jay McDowell, believes Bradley gave the rest of the class the confidence that they could do it as well.
“It showed the rest of the students that it could be done and encouraged the rest of the class to go for it,” said McDowell. “Now they think ‘I can do this. This is doable. I can choose my dream.’ This is a great thing for West-MEC”
Aviation students at West-MEC learn their general skills in the first semester of their first year. But students of the past have had to wait almost an entire calendar year to test for these skills, making it even more difficult for West-MEC students. Considering their traditional high school classes and the fact they are also studying for the airframe and powerplant tests, one can see how challenging it would be to study for yet another exam in which these students learned all the information the previous year.
Now that the rules have changed for the better, Bradley and aviation students of the future can test in their first year. Bradley is excited about his future in the field.
“I’ve always been interested in aviation but never thought I’d be working on planes,” said Bradley. “Now I want to hope to work for an airline as an A&P Mechanic.”
McDowell is excited about the change as students will have an easier path to earn their credentials after years of a stricter hurdle to pass. He’s also incredibly proud of Bradley for taking the first step toward a better future for West-MEC’s aviation students.
“Hayden is an example of a great West-MEC student. Hayden is here because this is what he wants to do. It’s easy to tell this is what he wants, he is here every day and is an amazing student,” said McDowell. “That’s typical of our students, they’re career driven and motivated and Hayden is an excellent example of that.”
