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Printed on 3/21/2023

Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics

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32-486-1 Technical Diploma (TD) Full Time 66 Credits Learn About Financial Aid Available Times of Day: Day, Evening Location*: Oshkosh

*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.

Aviation maintenance technicians play an important role in keeping aircraft safe and ready to fly. This program prepares you for Federal Aviation Administration certification which allows a mechanic to inspect and maintain U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Through hands-on training you’ll learn to inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain aircraft structure and aircraft engines. You’ll also learn the details of maintenance documentation, recordkeeping and certification, as well as how to read technical drawings and diagrams. This career field requires a high standard of integrity and ethics. Are you ready? (Transfer students, please see additional FAA information below.)

COURSE LIST

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Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

    Occupational Specific (54 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Materials and Installation
    10-486-112
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10486112
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces aerospace materials, hardware and processes. Students study the proper use of hand and power tools and precision measuring equipment. Safety is emphasized. Students do hands-on activities in sheet metal layout, bending and forming and install antennas and avionics equipment. They identify and inspect finishing materials.

    Prereq: Admission to Aircraft Electronics or Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic programs; Coreq: College Technical Math 1 (10804115) or College Technical Math 1A (10804113)
  • Aircraft Electrical Power
    10-486-160
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10486160
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces aircraft power sources and starting systems. Students complete maintenance and troubleshooting on batteries, generators, alternators and starters. Aircraft electric motor operation and systems application are also covered.

    Prereq: Admission to Aircraft Electronics or Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic programs; Coreq: College Technical Math 1 (10804115) or College Technical Math 1A (10804113)
  • Aviation Regulations & Publications
    10-486-161
    2Credit
    54
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10486161
    • Credits: 2.00

    Studies FAA and manufacturers' publications. FAA regulations for certification, maintenance and aircraft airworthiness are reviewed. Students identify FAA-approved publications and procedures to perform maintenance to an airworthy standard including aircraft record requirements.

    Prereq: Admission to Aircraft Electronics or Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic programs; Coreq: College Technical Math 1 (10804115) or College Technical Math 1A (10804113)
  • DC Circuits 3 - Aircraft/Electromechanical
    10-620-103
    1Credit
    27
    27
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10620103
    • Credits: 1.00

    Covers capacitors and inductors including time constants and instantaneous voltage and current values of RC and RL circuits. Applications and various types of capacitors and inductors are discussed. Magnetism, electromagnetism, and devices, such as relays and solenoids, are also presented. Laboratory activities are performed to verify the theory.

    Coreq: DC Circuits 2 (10660111)
  • DC Circuits 1
    10-660-110
    1Credit
    27
    27

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10660110
    • Credits: 1.00

    Introduces electrical safety and program procedures. The course covers Ohm's Law, power law, series circuits, and voltmeter, ammeter and ohmmeter applications. Number powers, electronic notations, circuit component recognition and diagrams, resistor power ratings, color code, Kirchhoff's voltage law and atomic structure are also included.

    Coreq: College Technical Math 1 (10804115) OR College Technical Math 1A (10804113) OR Industrial Maintenance Math (31804308) OR College Algebra and Trigonometry with Applications (10804197) OR Intermediate Algebra with Applications (10804118)
  • DC Circuits 2
    10-660-111
    1Credit
    27
    27

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10660111
    • Credits: 1.00

    Covers basic parallel and series-parallel circuits and their properties. Examines the theory, application and design of series-parallel circuits, such as loaded and unloaded voltage dividers and the Wheatstone bridge. Laboratory activities are performed to verify the theory.

    Coreq: DC Circuits 1 (10660110)
  • AC Circuits 1
    10-660-114
    1Credit
    27
    27

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10660114
    • Credits: 1.00

    Covers AC waveforms and different voltage values including Peak, RMS, Average and Peak to Peak. The operation of transformers is also included. Laboratory activities using the oscilloscope are performed to verify the theory.

    Coreq: DC Circuits 3 (10660112) OR enrolled in the Manufacturing Engineering Tech program (106233) and Coreq: DC Circuits 2 (10660111)
  • Aircraft Instrument Systems
    10-486-110
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10486110
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces operating principles and use of aircraft instrumentation on pressure, gyroscopic, and direction indicating. Operation and use of electronic systems for flight instrument, altitude direction indicator, centralized aircraft monitoring, engine indicator and crew alerting systems will be studied. Inspection and troubleshooting of engine instrument systems and components will be covered.

    Prereq: Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124); DC Circuits 1 (10660110); DC Circuits 2 (10660111); DC Circuits 3 (10620103); AC Circuits 1 (10660114)
  • Basic Avionics Systems
    10-486-111
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10486111
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces avionics systems which will provide the student with the knowledge to understand the operation of communication and navigation components and systems. Emphasis is on familiarization with avionics systems used on aircraft and how these systems are utilized by the flight crew. Avionics systems introduce the following: Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR), Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Marker Beacon, Long-Range Navigation (LORAN C), Automatic Direction Finder (ADF), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Area Navigation (RNAV), Global Position Systems (GPS), Very High Frequency Communication Systems (VHF Com.), Audio Control Systems, Radar Altimeters, Transponders, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS), and Weather Radar Systems.

    Prereq: Introduction to Aeronautics (10486124 or 10402124), DC Circuits 1 (10660110), DC Circuits 2 (10660111), DC Circuits 3 (10620103) and AC Circuits 1 (10660114)
  • Aircraft Electrical Systems
    10-486-163
    3Credit
    90
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 90
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 10486163
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces aircraft electrical systems and component operation. Projects will allow students to develop skills in wiring installation, termination, repairs and inspection of systems. Maintenance of controls, switches, indicators and protective devices will be introduced to develop servicing and troubleshooting skills.

    Prereqs: Aircraft Electrical Power (10486160 or 10402160); DC Circuits 1 (10660110); DC Circuits 2 (10660111); DC Circuits 3 (10620103); AC Circuits 1 (10660114)
  • Maintenance Forms & Records
    10-486-166
    1Credit
    27
    27
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10486166
    • Credits: 1.00

    Focuses on understanding and applying FAA regulations and requirements for aircraft maintenance records. Student learns record entry procedures and required details for completion of FAA forms, documentation for major repairs, inspections and weight & balance records. Work orders, parts tagging, time controlled parts and inspection monitoring will be identified.

    Prereq: Aviation Regulations & Publications (10486161 or 10402161); Materials & Installation (10486112 or 10402112)
  • Technical Drawings & Diagrams
    10-486-167
    1Credit
    27
    27
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10486167
    • Credits: 1.00

    Prepares students to read and use aircraft blueprints, draw sketches of aircraft repairs and alterations. Identify symbols and utilize schematic diagrams, graphs and charts in specific applications. Apply troubleshooting skills to systems with the use of electrical wiring diagrams.

    Prereq: Aviation Regulations & Publications (10486161 or 10402161); Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124)
  • Human Factors
    10-486-168
    1Credit
    27
    27
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 27
    • Outside Effort Hours: 27
    • Course Number: 10486168
    • Credits: 1.00

    Introduces maintenance resource management issues. The study of airline safety, human error in maintenance, human factors fundamentals, worker safety, communication, team work, situation awareness, and performance management.

  • Aircraft Applied Welding
    32-442-317
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 32442317
    • Credits: 1.00

    Introduces the processes of GMAW on steel, GTAW on stainless and aluminum, and GTAW on thin wall tubular steel structure. Oxy-gas welding equipment safety techniques are examined. Inspection of weld samples is emphasized.

  • Powerplant Systems 1
    32-486-315
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 32486315
    • Credits: 3.00

    Covers the principles of fire protection and induction and exhaust systems including maintenance, inspection and troubleshooting of components and systems.

    Prereqs: Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124); Aircraft Electrical Power (10486160 or 10402160); Aircraft Instrument Systems (10486110 or 10402110)
  • Powerplant Systems 2
    32-486-316
    2Credit
    72
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 32486316
    • Credits: 2.00

    Outlines aircraft ignition systems. Students learn about aircraft magneto, turbine ignition, high and low tension ignition systems, and the construction and functioning of the aircraft sparkplug. Appropriate FAA regulations and the use of manufacturers' manuals are stressed.

    Prereqs: Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124); Aircraft Electrical Power (10486160 or 10402160); Aircraft Instrument Systems (10486110 or 10402110)
  • Aircraft Systems 1
    32-486-322
    2Credit
    72
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 32486322
    • Credits: 2.00

    Teaches students the principles of cabin atmosphere control and fuel systems. Typical systems are studied using aircraft maintenance installation and the overhaul of various components. Included is the study of vacuum, de-icing, oxygen and airframe fuel systems.

    Prereqs: Survey of Physics (10806139) or College Physics 1 (10806143); Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124); Aircraft Electrical Systems (10402163 or 10486163)
  • Aircraft Inspection and Analysis
    32-486-333
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 32486333
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides an introduction to non-destructive inspection, including magnetic particle, dye penetrant, eddy current, and ultrasonic testing. Students will also apply advanced design and completion techniques for metallic structure repair. Metallurgy and heat treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous metals are also explored.

    Prereq: Materials & Installation (10486112 or 10402112)
  • Propellers
    32-486-339
    2Credit
    72
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 32486339
    • Credits: 2.00

    Explains the construction and operating principles of propellers and propeller systems. Federal Aviation Administration regulations and manufacturers' specifications relating to the installation, inspection and maintenance of propellers and their systems are addressed.

    Prereq: Inspection Fundamentals 10486104, Ground Handling & Servicing 10486105, Aircraft Technical Drawings 10486127
  • Aircraft Systems 2
    32-486-323
    4Credit
    144
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 32486323
    • Credits: 4.00

    Focuses on aircraft hydraulic, pneumatic, and fire detection and protection systems. It also covers basic principles and system designs, the purpose and functioning of the individual units, and maintenance overhaul and testing of units and systems.

    Prereqs: Survey of Physics (10806139) or College Physics 1 (10806143); Aircraft Electrical Systems (10486163 or 10402163)
  • Structural Materials
    32-486-326
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 32486326
    • Credits: 3.00

    Teaches the student to apply basic concepts of inspection and maintenance of wood aircraft structures and fabric covering. The development and industry integration of advanced composite materials will be introduced. Extensive hands on projects with composite materials will use vacuum bag techniques with heat application in repairs of composite materials. Inspection and maintenance of aircraft plastics will be experienced.

    Prereqs: Aeronautics, Introduction to (10486124 or 10402124); Materials & Installation (10486112 or 10402112); Technical Drawings & Diagrams (10486167 or 10402167)
  • Maintenance and Service
    32-486-327
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 32486327
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the techniques of servicing and repairing aircraft and the systematic inspection of the entire airframe, powerplant and accessories. Fundamentals of rigging flight controls and operation of rotary wing aircraft are introduced.

    Prereq: Maintenance Forms & Records (10486166 or 10402166)
  • Aircraft Powerplant 2
    32-486-331
    4Credit
    144
    72
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 72
    • Course Number: 32486331
    • Credits: 4.00

    Emphasizes the theory, repair and troubleshooting of aircraft turbine engines. Hot section inspection, ground servicing, engine run-up, inspection procedures, use of various test equipment and engine instruments are covered. Regulations and use of manufacturers' manuals are stressed.

    Prereqs: Survey of Physics (10806139) or College Physics 1 (10806143); Aircraft Instrument Systems (10486110 or 10402110); Math-Technical Basic (10804125) or College Tech Math 1 (10801115) or College Tech Math 1A (10804113)
  • Powerplant Systems 3
    32-486-337
    3Credit
    108
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 108
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 32486337
    • Credits: 3.00

    Examines such topics as aircraft carburetion, float, injection and turbine fuel metering, as well as the maintenance and overhaul of associated fuel system components. Appropriate FAR's and manufacturers' procedures are followed.

    Prereq: Survey of Physics (10806139) or College Physics 1 (10806143)

    Occupational Supportive (12 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Aeronautics, Introduction to
    10-486-124
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10486124
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides an overview of aviation including the principles of flight. This course introduces aircraft systems and performance, navigation, basic meteorological concepts, aviation safety and specific regulations. The social and environmental impacts of aviation are discussed.

    Coreq: College Technical Math 1 (10804115) or College Technical Math 1A (10804113).
  • College Technical Math 1A
    10-804-113
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10804113
    • Credits: 3.00

    Included topics are solving linear equations; graphing; percent; proportions; measurement systems; computational geometry; and right triangle trigonometry. Emphasis will be on the application of skills to technical problems. Successful completion of College Technical Math 1A and College Technical Math 1B is the equivalent of College Technical Math 1.

    Prereq: Alg – HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL 51+, Next Gen 250+, ACT Math 18+ OR Alg Prep 10834109 OR Math & Logic 10804133 OR Not pursuing a degree.
  • Written Communication
    10-801-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801195
    • Credits: 3.00

    Teaches the writing process which includes prewriting, drafting and revising. Through writing assignments, students analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Class sessions and assignments involve giving oral presentations and using computers.

    Prereq: HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL Read 54+/Sent 83+, Next Gen Read 250+/Sent 250+, ACT Read 18+/Engl 18+ OR Read Prep 10838105/Sent Prep 10831103 OR Not pursuing a degree
  • Survey of Physics
    10-806-139
    3Credit
    72
    90

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10806139
    • Credits: 3.00

    Emphasizes understanding basic physics concepts through laboratory investigation and applications. Topics include kinematics, dynamics, work, energy, power, temperature, heat, waves, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics.

    Prereq: College Technical Math 1A (10804113) or College Mathematics (10804107) or College Technical Math 1 (10804115) or instructor approval
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Expected Competencies

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