Another Year, Same Great Event
United Airlines Family day, October 7, 2018, was filled with a lot of things to see, more than can be viewed within the time an individual would have on that day. That is why College of Alameda did their best to deliver the name of the CoA Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) to as many individuals as possible while promoting this event to anyone who would be interested in the program.
Under the effective leadership of Esther Cheng, one of the department’s leaders, approximately 25 students and I dedicated our time to ready the booth and set up and deliver pamphlets, information books, and COA AMT swap to 4,193 individuals that stopped by our both.
An Observation Beyond the Booth
With the time I had there, I knew I needed to see the rest of the event before I would lose my opportunity to do so. As I made my way towards the Jet Shop I stopped to see some of the interiors of the new Boeing 787-9 and the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as recent additions to United Airlines’ fleet.
It really gave me an idea of what I would be seeing should I enter the career field with major airlines. And given that I had completed a good majority of my schooling with the AMT program I saw and noticed things around the inside and outside of the aircraft and had made the connection to what I had been learning in school.
Next, my colleague and I made our way to United’s Jet Shop where they had a path set up on the inside for individuals to walk through and view the various amenities set up in the shop. One thing that stood out to me is that the Jet Shop looked similar to how our school hangars in Alameda were set up. The AMT layout, organization, and the amenities are kind of a ‘mini version’ of what United Airlines had set up.
As we walked along, we saw an A320 thrust reverser, which United had set up as a live demonstration by connecting it to a hydraulic power source and actuating the reverser mechanism. My colleague and I had observed it and understood how such a mechanism would work by looking at the systems and the overall design of the reverser unit. Again, the information we had been learning in the AMT program gave us invaluable knowledge of aircraft systems and how they work, and seeing it in person gives you a different perspective and insight of what an aircraft mechanic does.
People From All Backgrounds
Given the size of the event, many individuals came from varying backgrounds which ranged from kids almost out of school to people who are looking for a career change. But wherever they came from we were sure to inform them that the AMT career field or aviation in general is very broad and is compatible with almost anyone looking to involve themselves.
One individual I spoke to was working full time but was not entirely satisfied with what they were doing and wished to get into the field of aviation maintenance. One of his concerns was that he was unsure if he was able to commit to a program at COA for aviation maintenance while working at the same time.
I informed him that the program is conducted as a night class and that there are a handful of individuals in the program now who work concurrently while attending class. He was satisfied to hear that such a schedule was sustainable and I directed him towards how to go about applying and ultimately attending the school.
Another high school student came was by and said that although they weren’t sure what they wanted to do yet, aviation interested them. I suggested he consider aviation maintenance, especially with COA since my situation was quite similar before attending school.
I advised that if he wanted to, he could expand his career path anywhere in aviation as obtaining your A&P or aircraft mechanic license is very useful.
Overall, I really enjoyed the open house and informing people about the AMT program. The whole event allows you to really immerse yourself and see what it’s like to become a part of the aviation industry. This program for me provided a valuable stepping stone towards what I have planned for future.
Submitted by Airlines Maintenance Technology Student Matthew Yoon. Photos courtesy of United Airlines
