Last week, Pryor Aviation students experienced a behind-the-scenes experience at the American Airlines Tech Ops - Tulsa maintenance base. For most, it was the first time seeing the inner workings of massive commercial aircraft up close. The students saw firsthand the intricate operations required to maintain the jets and keep flights running smoothly.
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"The most interesting part of our trip was how extensive it was, such as when they removed everything inside the planes to check for small issues to repair. I think it would be pretty interesting to go into as a career," said Senior Braxton Ellington, an Aviation III student.
American Airlines’s Chase Beasley guided students and their instructors Dr. Jenny Peters, Tami Rowland, and mentor Doug Robertson through the powerplant and airframe areas of the Tulsa maintenance base. Students observed engine overhaul and heavy structural overhaul work being performed on American Airlines aircraft.
"I thought the coolest part of the tour was the complete shell and engine overhaul. It was really interesting how intricate and precise; they had to completely dismantle and disassemble the engines to make sure that everything is built back correctly," said Bryce Pathkiller Aviation IV senior.
Nick Rowland, Aviation IV senior, found being in the hangers and watching “the process they use, for instance getting to watch the employees working with the engines and seeing the different stages of what they do there" was the most interesting part of the trip.
Out in the hangers, students got a close up view of a Boeing 777-200 undergoing minor maintenance. They also got to climb inside the fuselage and cargo hull of a 737 undergoing a heavy overhaul. Standing in the wheel well and walking beneath the structure of the wing allowed students to see the complex components involved in commercial aircraft and what is required to keep the planes flying safely.
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Oklahoma is the site of the world’s largest aircraft maintenance base, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, established in 1941, and the largest commercial aviation maintenance facility, American Airlines Tech Ops - Tulsa, established in 1946. Aviation career opportunities are rapidly expanding across the state.
“The aerospace and defense industry is Oklahoma’s second largest and fastest growing sector. In the last five years, Oklahoma attracted $1.9 billion in new investment for the state and more than 7,700 new jobs for Oklahomans,” according to Oklahoma Commerce.
The growing job market and competitive pay for aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) caught the students’ attention. “I've been bouncing between pilot and mechanic but if this pathway is still available by the time I'm ready, I’m definitely choosing it, said Colby Cooper, said Aviation IV Tango Flight senior.
Pryor Aviation students were inspired by the tour and gained a deeper understanding of the technical skills and career opportunities in aviation. Tango Flight mentor Doug Robertson expressed his appreciation for the “interest AA employees had in wanting to help our students toward their future.”