Aviation Maintenance Technician

Certificate

About this program

Ready to land a career in aviation? At Penn College, you’ll find an industry-driven curriculum that refines all the skills needed to become an airframe or powerplant maintenance technician. Coursework combines theory with real-world applications. And it includes lots of experience working through routine repairs and troubleshooting complex challenges with our College-owned fleet of aircraft.  

FAA

Approved Repair Station

FAA Certified Curriculum and Facility

Hangar Facility Located at an Operational Airport

Careers

  • Commercial aviation 
  • General aviation 
  • Aviation repair stations 
  • Manufacturer’s services 
  • Helicopter technician
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • AVI100Aviation Practices I
  • AVI105Aviation Practices II
  • AVI110Aviation Fundamentals I
  • AVI115Aviation Fundamentals II
  • AVI120Aviation Science I
  • AVI125Aviation Basic Electricity I
  • AVI140Aircraft Reciprocating Engines
  • AVI130Aviation Science II
  • AVI135Aviation Basic Electricity II
  • AVI145Aircraft Turbine Engines
  • AVI150Aircraft Engine Fuel Metering Systems
  • AVI155Aircraft Engine Ignition Systems
  • AVI160Aircraft Engine Systems
  • AVI165Engine Electrical Systems
  • AVI170Aircraft Engine Troubleshooting & Inspection
  • AVI200Vintage Aircraft Structures
  • AVI205Sheet Metal Aircraft Structures
  • AVI210Composite Aircraft Structures
  • AVI215Airframe Systems I
  • AVI220Airframe Systems II
  • AVI225Rotary Wing Systems & Maintenance
  • AVI230Advanced Aircraft Electrical Systems
  • AVI335Airframe Electronic & Instrument Systems
  • AVI340Airframe Inspection

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

  • ENLP1 Select One Course: ENL010 or ENL111
  • MTH011Career Mathematics

Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

Facilities

Aviation Center

Gain hands-on experience working on a fleet of College-owned aircraft in a licensed repair facility for private aircraft - preparing you for your FAA Mechanical License.

Maker Profiles
Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Feb 21

Undergraduate Open House

Saturday, February 219 AM - 3 PM

Register

Apr 26

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, April 269 AM - 3 PM

Register

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Contact

Admissions Office

Industry Partners

Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

Lycoming logo
Member of Helicopter Association of International
SkyWest Airlines

Career Fair Connections

Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

Learn More About Career Fair
Student Life

Stay active in and out of the classroom

PCT RC Club

Introduce the dynamics of aeronautics by applying theory to real life projects. These projects include RC builds; small and large scale, rocketry or anything that is designed to fly through the air.

Learn More

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Get Involved
Penn College News

Friday, October 24, 2025

Penn College aviation student receives scholarship

A Pennsylvania College of Technology aviation student is one of 15 nationwide recipients of scholarships awarded at the recent National Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas. Liam B. Rosenfield, of Goshen, Connecticut, received the William M. Fanning Maintenance Scholarship.

Friday, August 8, 2025

Aviation students' success gets trade publication mention

An article in Avionics News – written by retired Penn College aviation faculty member Thomas D. Inman (who continues to teach part-time) – highlights a new aviation-industry student competition at which Penn College students captured several top prizes.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Night on the ... tarmac!

The second annual Aviators Ball repeated the success of last year’s inaugural event, organized by the Student Veteran Organization and held at Penn College’s Lumley Aviation Center at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville. Among events toasting out the academic year, the semi-formal affair featured games, music, photo ops, food and Wildcat connections.

Study Abroad

Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

Learn More
Our Leadership

Faculty Story

Aviation instructor sails to World Gliding Championships

Using the power of the atmosphere, glider pilot Michael R. Robison, a Penn College aviation instructor, soars among world-class competitors.

More Information

Certification: Federal Aviation Administration, approved under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 147.

The following grading system is applied to all AVI-designated courses. There is no rounding of grades.

A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89.99
C = 72 – 79.99
D = 70 – 71.99
F = 69.99 and below

View general transfer information

View the Aviation Maintenance Technician Tool List

Uniforms and tools are available for purchase through The College Store.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

  • Mr. James Brady, '85, Senior Manager, Quality Control, United Airlines
  • Mr. Christopher Burns, Director, Maintenance, Polari's Aviation Solution
  • Mr. Bradley T Cole, '07, '09, Supervisor, Maintenance, Corning Incorporated
  • Mr. Linh Do, '09, Aircraft Maintenance Lead Air Transportation Department, Air Products
  • Mr. Robert Evans, Training & Safety Director, Compliance Officer, Sterling Helicopter
  • Mr. Darrell Frey, President/CEO, New World Aviation
  • Mr. Christopher Gayman, '09, '10, Supervisor of Product Support, Lycoming Engines
  • Mr. Jeffery Gazey, '02, Director, Aviation Maintenance, Geisinger Health System
  • Mr. Joel A Glover, Director, Maintenance, Advanced Lancaster LP
  • Mr. Franklin A Hartman, '85, Delivery Manager, Airbus Airlines, Final Assembly Line
  • Mr. William Hertz, '95, CASS Manager, Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
  • Mr. Brian Katherman, '10, Manager Aviation Support, The Hershey Company
  • Mr. George F McKinney, Sr., Vice President, Air-Parts of Lock Haven, Inc.
  • Mr. Kevin Pannebakker, '12, Aircraft Mechanic, Classic Services, Inc.
  • Mr. Aaron Phillips, '06, Aircraft Technician, Pfizer Inc.
  • Mr. Douglas R Phillips, '12, Maintenance Manager, Executive Jet Management
  • Mr. Trevor Schaeffer, 2017, Aircraft Crew Chief, Pfizer, Inc.
  • Mr. William Snyder, '70, Federal Aviation Administration, Retired
  • Mr. S. Michael Vennie, Senior Director Technical Operations, Bighorn Airways, Inc.
  • Mr. Keith Wells, 2012, Helicopter Mechanic, Project Coordinator, Geisinger Medical Center
  • Mr. Andrew D Zook, '02, '07, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor, Air Products and Chemicals