WESTFIELD – 2014 was a big year for Westfield Vocational-Technical High School (WVTHS).
Over the course of the year, the school formed an advisory committee and compiled resources from the state and local businesses for the formation an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program for aviation technology, which would allow WVTHS students to study in the shadow of Barnes Regional Airport and to join the aviation industry upon graduation in maintenance, manufacturing, air traffic control, airport management, engineering and airport design positions.
According to the program’s advisory board, the goal is to have the A&P program off the ground by September 2015.
In early December at a press conference at the Gill Technology Center at the Holyoke Transportation Center, WVTHS received a major boost in the form of a $1.02 million grant for the A&P program from the office of Greg Bialecki, secretary of Housing and Economic Development for Gov. Deval L. Patrick.
“The more we have learned about our great vocational-technical high schools and community colleges in western Mass., we have realized that they can hold the key for many people to get a great job without having to go into a lot of college debt,” said Bialecki. “The schools are working with local government and business communities to train young people, educate them and prepare them for great jobs.”
According to WVTHS Principal Stefan Czaporowski, the planned aviation technology education program is a first of its kind effort in Massachusetts and New England and that the industry is one that will be starving for workers very soon.
“Boeing, in their 2014 Pilot and Technician Outlook, they’re projecting that in the next 19 years, the aviation system will need 584,000 new commercial airline maintenance technicians and 533,000 commercial airline pilots,” said WVTHS Czaporowski. “These are great-paying jobs for our kids, in careers that last a lifetime.”
Czaporowski said that the Federal Aviation Administration is working with the school to get the program approved and that, with the help of the state, the school now has the funding necessary to purchase equipment for the program.
According to Czaporowski, WVTHS had accumulated around $2.36 million for the program at year’s end.
“It’s hard to tell what the interior will cost, but we have a rough idea. We’re looking at about $3.5 million,” he said in October. “But $2.36 out of $3.5 ain’t bad considering we just started.”
“We’ve targeted between $2.8 – $3 million as a start-up budget.” said Fran Ahern, general manager of Gulfstream’s Westfield facility and head of the board’s finance committee, in October. “We’re well on our way to raising some funds.”
Ahern stated at that time that the board is in talks with over 50 aviation companies pursuing funding and that many of these have shown “upside potential.”
Wednesday, Czaporowski said that the program is divided into three components – general curriculum, airframe and powerplant.
“Aiframe is for the body and wings, and powerplant is for the engine,” he explained. “We’re going to start the general and airframe this fall, so that the kids coming in as freshmen will be going through and then expand the program as they go through and we begin accepting new kids.”
Czaporowski added that much of the funding left to raise will go toward revitalizing Hangar Two at Barnes Regional Airport, which will serve as the shop for the A&P program.
“I do anticipate that we’ll be able to get more money,” he said. “As soon as the new Baker administration comes in, we want to let them know what we’re doing.”
WVTHS’ Principal noted that Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s cabinet pick for Secretary of Education, James Peyser,former chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, has expressed interest in strengthening vocational-technical education.
“This should be a no-brainer for them,” said Czaporowski.
