www.AviationPros.com 41
THE EDUCATION CONNECTION
The Rock Valley College (RVC)
Aviation Maintenance Technician
program has been located on the
RFD airport for decades. It was
similar to many AMT programs
around the country; located in
a small older building with an
equally small enrollment. One of
the key realizations for RFD to be
able to attract a large world-class
MRO was the ability for the area to
provide a pipeline of talent. Part of
the MRO project was to also build
a new larger school and to have it
adjacent to the MRO.
Mark Adolphson, academic
chair aviation technology, says,
"A few years ago we would take in
about 40 new students per year.
The first year of the
new facility we started
120 new students." He
goes on to explain the
close location allows
for easy and frequent
student tours and AAR
has donated its first
large component, an
APU, to the school as a
training aid.
Greg Dellinger says,
"AAR now has a pipeline
of freshly minted
aircraft maintenance
talent right across
the street — another part of the
secret sauce of AAR RFD." Every
graduating student from RVC with
their FAA certificate will be offered
an opportunity to interview for
a position at AAR RFD. AAR has
already begun hiring students into
different jobs, including support
technicians/mechanic helpers.
ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE PHOTOGRAPHER,
ABBYE GARCIA.
AviationPros.com/company/12091501