ANDOVER — This school year, Greater Lawrence Technical School became the second high school in the state to offer an aviation maintenance program.
Through the school’s exploratory program, which allows first-year students to experience each of the 22 career pathways before committing to one, students have been learning about the dynamic world of aerospace, training on aircraft systems, aviation tools, FAA regulations, and more.
The program came to fruition after discussions between now-Lawrence City Council President Jeovanny Rodriguez and former School Committee member-turned-Councilor Vivian Marmol, who recognized that an aviation program would be beneficial to students given the school’s proximity to Lawrence Municipal Airport.
With support from local and state officials, partners, school officials and the School Committee, along with developmental consulting from Westfield Aviation Academy instructor Christopher Chaves, the program was officially able to take flight.
On Oct. 15, Greater Lawrence opened its doors to state and local officials, community partners at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Lawrence Municipal Airport, and the Federal Aviation Administration, and other guests so that they, too, could get a taste of aviation.
Guests started off their exploratory morning at Greater Lawrence’s hangar at Lawrence Municipal Airport, where students who select the aviation maintenance pathway will further their education as upper-level students. The hangar was purchased by the City of Lawrence on the school’s behalf, and legislation was later passed that allowed Greater Lawrence to purchase the hangar from the City.
Inside the hangar is a Learjet, fully equipped with a turbojet, and a second smaller plane, along with toolkits, so that students can have practical experience working on the frame, exterior, wings, and metal parts of a plane. At the completion of the program, students will graduate with Federal Aviation Administration certifications, as the Administration will review their work to ensure it meets local and state guidelines. Students will also have the opportunity to take FAA written and practical exams.
“The day the Learjet landed from Florida is one of the most exciting of my career,” said Superintendent John Lavoie. “The aviation program is monumental for our school. We are building a program that provides post-graduate opportunities for students in a field that is experiencing a decline in the workforce, while providing an education up to par with federal standards. It’s very exciting to see it all come together.”
Following the hangar tour, guests returned to the school to celebrate the program over breakfast, featuring remarks from Superintendent Lavoie and Chaves.
State Rep. Frank Moran, a member of Greater Lawrence’s class of 1989, was recognized during the speaking program for his efforts in championing the bill through Massachusetts Legislature that allowed for the airport hangar to be purchased.
“I was honored to join students, staff, and administrators from Greater Lawrence Technical School to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s state of the art aviation program,” said Second Assistant Majority Leader Frank A. Moran. “Guiding my alma mater through the legislative process felt like a fitting way to contribute to this once-in-a-lifetime endeavor, ensuring that generations of future students will get the chance to participate in this new program and grow just as I did during my own years at GLTS. Thank you to Mayor Brian DePeña and the Lawrence City Council for their leadership in securing a hangar at the airport for this project, and I continue to be grateful for Superintendent Lavoie’s leadership and vision to ensure that the students of GLTS are provided with every opportunity to succeed.”
Guests ended the day by touring the second Greater Lawrence hangar and Grade 10 Aviation Lab, where younger students will begin their education by familiarizing themselves with the systems and parts of an aircraft. The hangar features several interactive models, breaking down each component of airplane systems, a two-seater plane, and a Boston Helicopters Robinson R-44 helicopter.
Boeing projects that over the next 20 years, 610,000 new aircraft technicians will be needed worldwide to maintain an adequate workforce. In Massachusetts, employment for aircraft mechanics is expected to grow 27% by 2030, with about 150 annual openings statewide. The median salary for aircraft mechanics in Massachusetts is $76,450.
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