Joseph Zamudio Sanchez wants to aim for the skies, and he’s doing that by following in his father’s footsteps to become an aviation mechanic.               

             Sanchez is currently enrolled in the Del Mar College Aviation Maintenance program, the same program his father completed in the 2010s.

            “My father went through the [aviation] program 12 to 13 years ago. Seeing him put in the work and talk about it is something I’ve always looked up to him about,” Sanchez said.

             Del Mar College has offered the Aviation Maintenance Technician program since the early 2000s and was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2006. The college is one of 206 colleges in the United States to be certified by the FAA. Once completing the program, students can then test to become an aircraft mechanic with an aircraft and powerplant certification.

            The aviation program learns about reciprocating and turbine engines. Del Mar offers Aviation Maintenance: Airframe applied technology which focuses on the body of the aircraft and Aviation Maintenance: Powerplant with applied technology which is focused on the engine systems. Both of these programs offer either an associate degree or a Level 2 certificate.

           This program is not the typical lecture-heavy class. The work is mostly a hands-on technical program consisting of 60-70% lab-oriented curriculum hours with the remaining hours lecture and classroom theoretical lessons.

           The hands-on portion of the program takes place in two hangars, one on the Windward Campus and another 15,000-square foot hangar at the Corpus Christi International Airport that can hold 10-15 aircrafts.

          “My favorite class was ground operations, we got into the aircraft drove it around and towed it across the airfield,” student Jacob Hirle said.

           Hard work pays off in this program: it’s an 18-month program with classes held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

           “College has gotten out-of-control expensive, the students of today have to look at education as an investment in themselves and what the return of the investment is,” Aviation Program Director Albert Agnich said.

           Sanchez recommends this course to students who may not be sure of a major to choose, as “there are good people, good lessons to learn, hands-on activities, and when you get into the field there are many opportunities that can take you all over the world.”

           At the end of this program the student must take three written exams which must be passed with a 70% or higher, followed by an oral and practical test with an FAA instructor. 

          After the successful completion of the four exams there are many job opportunities with a minimum starting pay of $28 an hour and up to $40 an hour.

          “Anywhere there’s sky, fuel, a runway there’s aircraft flying and there are U.S. aircrafts all around the world for opportunities,” Agnich said.