By DAN HEATH
Staff Writer
PLATTSBURGH —
The Federal Aviation Administration has certified two of three portions of the Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute.
Jim McCartney III, principal of the CV-TEC satellite campus that is home to the Aeronautical Institute, said a formal presentation of the certificate will take place Tuesday.
Efforts to create an FAA-certified Part 147 Airframe and Powerplant school started in 2004.
Classes began on Sept. 8, 2009, after the institute received certification from the New York State Education Department.
The FAA certification is for the general and powerplant parts of the program. McCartney said he expects the airframe portion of the program to be certified this summer.
Certification allows organizations such as the Veterans Administration to enroll its members and have them be eligible for funding.
"We have a limited number of grants available," McCartney said.
The institute is accepting applications for the fall semester. High-school juniors and seniors from the 17 school districts in the CV-TEC program can attend either morning or afternoon sessions.
Adults with a high-school diploma, a GED or who have graduated from a post-secondary school can enroll in evening classes.
Students can earn up to 36 college credits from Clinton Community College or 42 credits at Mohawk Valley Community College by taking part in the program. They are required to complete a minimum of 2,200 hours of coursework and must pass oral, written and practical tests to receive FAA certification.
McCartney credited PAI instructor Chris Lago and curriculum developer Mike Nason for making sure the lesson plans matched up with the curriculum, which resulted in the FAA certification.
Information on the program and its many supporters is available by going to www.cves.org and clicking on the link for Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute.
The satellite campus, located in the former CommutAir facilities at 518 Rugar St., is also home to CV-TEC's welding, small-engine repair and CDL license programs.
The school also moved the Champlain Valley Educational Services district superintendent, personnel and accounting offices to the satellite campus. That has allowed expansion of several programs at the main campus, McCartney said.
E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
