(Two stories:)

Aircraft repair program takes off at UCFV
and
Students enthusiastic about new UCFV Aircraft program

Trades training at the University College of the Fraser Valley is really taking off this fall. UCFV's Trades and Technology department has added a new Aircraft Structural Repair certificate program.

UCFV held a special launch ceremony for the program on Monday, November 26. The program is based at UCFV's new Aerospace Training Centre, in Hangar 2 at the Abbotsford Airport.

"This program is a good example of the post-secondary system responding to meet the needs of B.C.'s knowledge-based economy," said B.C. Minister of Advanced Education Shirley Bond. "The partnership formed to create this program will result in benefits to students, employers and the economy."

The Aircraft Structural Repair program was made possible with $501,282 in funding by the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission (ITAC), the governing body for trades and apprenticeship training in B.C.

"Launching another program that supports the aerospace industry will help us meet our commitment to supporting the specific educational and training needs of the Fraser Valley region," says UCFV president Dr. Skip Bassford. "We're very pleased to be working in such an effective partnership with Cascade Aerospace and other aerospace industry representatives."

UCFV already offers an aviation diploma and a business administration degree with an aviation focus.

Demand is expected be high for graduates. One large Abbotsford-based employer (and UCFV's primary partner in the training program), Cascade Aerospace, is looking to hire hundreds of new employees, including structural technicians and apprentices, as it significantly expands its aircraft maintenance business. It is anticipated that the growth of this company and other aerospace-related enterprises in the area will create spinoff demand in Abbotsford as other companies locate near a skilled labour force.

In the fall of 2000, the Aerospace Industry Association of B.C. (AIABC) predicted that there will be over 355 new positions needing to be filled in the structural category by 2005. AIABC also forecasted that the aerospace industry will require up to 3,400 new and technical workers within five years, including structural technicians. While these estimates were compiled prior to the recent downturn in the industry, industry experts predict an economic recovery and continued human resource shortages by 2005.

"We are delighted to be a part of this program and commend UCFV and everyone involved for creating a truly innovative program," says Barry Marsden, chairman and CEO of Cascade Aerospace. "It is innovative because it was designed to meet specific needs of the aerospace industry, and because of its non-traditional delivery. The program is modular, and has a mix of classroom and hands-on training on actual aircraft and in the workplace environment. It is expected to deliver excellent results. Additionally, the partnership between industry and UCFV means substantial cost savings for the government. All of these things help to make this program a good one for the students, a winner for UCFV, and an innovative solution for the aerospace industry."

UCFV Trades and Technology director Harv McCullough is delighted to be in growth mode, and to be addressing local educational demands.

"It's a priority of both government and industry to enhance trades training in B.C. to meet the projected need for thousands more trained tradespeople over the coming decade," he says. "Two of their areas of focus are hospitality and aerospace, and those closely match our growth plans. While addressing local employment demands, the new Aircraft program, and another one we've added in Cook Training, will also provide students with portable skills that are in demand worldwide."

The Aircraft Structural Repair program dovetails nicely with the city of Abbotsford's economic development strategy, which identifies the Abbotsford airport as one of the key engines for growth.

"Because the airport is a key component of the city of Abbotsford's growth strategy, it is timely and critical that UCFV provide more training to support this sector of the economy," says Dr. Wayne Welsh, UCFV's academic vice president. "The immediate needs of local companies such as Cascade Aerospace (a division of Conair) for skilled technicians are well beyond the capacity of established programs elsewhere, so this new local training program will be very beneficial. We expect that our increased presence in training at the airport will help influence other companies to locate there." 

The support for an aerospace program was initiated by discussions between UCFV & Cascade Aerospace and included officials from the Mayor's office, and representatives of the Abbotsford School Board and District, the Abbotsford Airport Authority, the Career Technical Centre, UCFV's Industry Liaison office, and Transport Canada.

"Industry support for this program has been significant and critical towards obtaining funding and towards development of a program suited to their needs," said Welsh. "This support was spearheaded by the federal Industrial Research Assistance Program officer for this sector located at UCFV, Tony Edgar, and by Bob Earp from Ashford Training Technologies, who continue to help with developments for this program."

The 15-month Aircraft Structural Repair program will give students a thorough introduction to the aircraft repair and maintenance trade. They will alternate training with paid work experience for the duration of the program. Two classes will be running concurrently, so that when one is in training the other will be on work experience.

After completing the certificate program, graduates will be qualified to start careers as structures apprentices and eventually become structures technicians.

UCFV worked with consultant Bob Earp of Ashford Training Technologies and with industry partners to get the program in place.

"The support from industry was unbelievable, and it wasn't just local," says McCullough. "Our industry partners vetted every part of the curriculum and made some valuable suggestions, such as dividing it into modules."

The 18 students in the first cohort of UCFV's Aircraft Structural Repair program are excited about their new challenges.

Nav Brar, who spoke on behalf of the students at the recent program launch, was driving a gravel truck until recently.

"That wasn't really a long-term career, but once I'm into this industry it will open lots of doors for me," says Brar, who's from Abbotsford. "It's great that I don't have to leave my community for training and I'm looking forward to new career opportunities."

Zack O'Brennan of Chilliwack says the programs great for "creative people who like to work with their hands.

"It also involves a lot of math, geometry, and physics, so it's challenging. I always loved metalwork, so this is a great program for me."

Colin McWhinney of Abbotsford was taking sciences and math at UCFV with plans to become a teacher. He thinks he still might like to teach one day, but now it might be in a field related to aerospace.

"I was always interested in planes and in working with my hands. This program is a great opportunity for people from Abbotsford because we have the airport closeby. The opportunities for me are endless. I can go into hands-on work and maybe end up teaching this type of program."

Terry Smith came from Gibsons to take the program.

"I was a civil technologist but I decided I wanted to get away from sitting behind a desk. I always wanted to be a mechanic but working on aircraft will be a cleaner and more technical type of mechanical work."