On Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 1:00 PM CT, ATEC will present a webinar briefing members on developments in avionics certifications.

Early this year, in response to a petition from the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), the FAA formally recognized ASTM International's National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies (NCATT) Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certification as equivalent to formal training when showing eligibility for the issuance of a repairman certificate. Get a briefing on what that means for graduating students leaving with the certification, initiatives underway, and how schools can become ASTM NCATT Approved Training Providers.

Presenters:
Steve Kane, Executive Director, CerTec
Ric Peri, Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs, Aircraft Electronics Association
Michael McDaniel, Director of Aviation Programs, Alabama Community College System

The webinar is free to members. Advance registration is required. 

For years, ATEC has partnered with the Northrop Rice Foundation to recognize outstanding educators, and promising aviation maintenance professionals. New this year, JSfirm.com will generously contribute a $750 cash award to each honoree.

The James Reardon Aviation Maintenance Technician Student of the Year Award and Ivan D. Livi Aviation Maintenance Educator of the Year Award recognize individuals who - through academic excellence, community involvement or professional skill - makes a direct, positive impact on their associates, school or community. Honorees will be recognized at the ATEC Annual Conference awards luncheon on Monday, March 18.

In addition to the cash award, winners receive a plaque, complimentary registration, and travel reimbursement to the ATEC annual conference, being held March 17-20 in Wichita.

On Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 1:00 PM CT, ATEC will present a webinar addressing English training for aviation maintenance, and the need for a specialized branch of Workplace English that is customized to job performance.

Speaker Anne E. Lomperis, MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), is a specialist in language planning and language policy for the labor force, serving in 20 countries across a wide range of industry sectors. She spearheaded a nine-year initiative to develop international standards, or best practices, in workplace language training. These best practices provide guidance for customization to job performance. She has been involved in Aviation English since initial discussions to form the Study Group for Proficiency Requirements in Common English (PRICE-SG), under the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). She focuses now on advancing the development of Aviation English for maintenance.

Anne will also present on the subject at the upcoming ATEC Annual Conference in Wichita. The Jan. 29 webinar is free for ATEC members. Advanced registration is required.

ATEC  joined industry allies urging the president and congressional leaders to end the U.S. government shutdown.

In its plea, the coalition highlighted the negative impacts created by personnel furloughs, including the degradation of moral for FAA personnel, the halting of certification and regulatory reform activities, hinderance and delays for mechanic testing, and stalls in workforce personnel training.

The letter made specific mention of mechanic testing delays, stating that FAA personnel furloughs are hindering knowledge testing activities, and preventing some designated mechanic examiners from getting requisite approvals from local office personnel to commence oral and practical testing.

"This partial shutdown has already inflicted real damage to our nation’s aviation system and the impacts will only worsen over time,'' the letter says. "We urge you to act quickly to resolve these issues.''

Of the nearly 45,000 FAA personnel, roughly two thirds are currently working without pay, nearly all of those in air traffic control.

Written testing centers have been closed since 12/26 due to the lapse in government funding. The FAA Office of Safety Standards reports that it is in the processes of getting them back up and running. Written testing should resume by Jan. 3.

Military testing, which is done through the FAA’s AKTD System, will remain suspended as long as the furlough is in effect.

If you are having issues with student testing during the shutdown, please email atec@atec-amt.org.

Contact: Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer
Phone: (720) 744-6632
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The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association National Executive Council is accepting applications for two scholarships. Scholarships will be $2500, payable to each recipient’s institution of higher learning. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled as a student in an A&P school, a U.S. citizen, and a demonstrated passion for the craft.

Completed applications must be submitted along with a transcript and 500-word essay entitled “safety in the air begins with quality maintenance on the ground."

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Founded in 1962, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is a craft oriented, independent aviation union. AMFA represents licensed and unlicensed technicians and related employees actively involved in the aviation industry. These technician and related employees work directly on aircraft and/or components, support equipment, and facilities. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing of technicians and to achieving progressive improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled craftsmen and women it represents. For more information about AMFA visit www.amfanational.org.