Airmen earn FAA certification through CCAF

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gregory Dos
  • Community College of the Air Force
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  Two aircraft maintainers are the first to earn Federal Aviation Administration certification under a Community College of the Air Force program launched in 2002.

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Gunson of the California Air National Guard and Tech. Sgt. Mark Faught from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, earned the certification. They are the first of more than 3,200 aircraft maintainers enrolled in the Air Force Airframe and Powerplant Certification Program to earn their FAA credentials.

The program lets Airmen earn professional certification that expands their development as maintainers and can help them when they transition from the Air Force, said J.R. Breeding, CCAF’s licensure and certification programs chief.

Mr. Breeding said the educational benefit is also a huge incentive because CCAF awards 30 semester hours credit toward a degree in aviation maintenance technology.

"It may not seem to be an important issue to an Airman now, but later on, when the Airman retires or leaves the service, the certification will be tremendous asset,” he said. “Although he or she may have 20 years of aircraft maintenance experience, if they don't have the credentials to back it up, the chances to market themselves are greatly reduced."

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray, who began his career in 1977 as a crew chief and spent 20 years in maintenance, is one of the many advocates of the program.

"It's great to see these maintainers obtaining the certification,” he said. "It’s good for them, and it's good for the Air Force because it gives us a more technically proficient and well-rounded maintainer."

An aircraft avionics systems specialist, Sergeant Gunson had experience in aircraft electrical and environmental systems. Traditionally, officials said avionics Airmen did not have the required experience in airframe and power plant systems to meet FAA eligibility requirements. Sergeant Gunson plugged away to complete the program's coursework and gain the required experience.

"This program was the perfect solution, and I enrolled the same day (I found out about it)," he said. "I am preparing for retirement and decided it would be wise to round out and certify my experience."

Sergeant Gunson said during all of his preliminary inquiries with civilian aviation companies, the first question they asked was whether he had his certification.

"Now that I have successfully completed all FAA exams, I feel I'll now be very well positioned for employment after retirement," he said.

The second program graduate, Sergeant Faught, took an alternate route to complete the required coursework, Mr. Breeding said.

Sergeant Faught completed his course work through distance learning offered by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and funded it by tuition assistance and the Montgomery GI Bill.

"Airmen may complete FAA-approved course work (Type 65 courses) in lieu of the three specialized courses offered through Air Force Institute of Advanced Distributive Learning," Mr. Breeding said. “This is an excellent program designed to guide the troops toward professional certification while still serving in the Air Force."

Aircraft maintenance Airmen may enroll in the program and begin training once they have been awarded their 5-skill level. Once they complete all required training and experience, they must have 30 months of practical aircraft maintenance experience in airframe and powerplant systems, six years time in service and a 7-skill level to receive the certificate of eligibility.

For information on the program, visit CCAF's Web site at www.maxwell.af.mil/au/ccaf/faa.htm. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)