What is the Aviation program?
Students enrolled in CTEC’s brand new Aviation program will experience a variety of careers in the aviation industry as they take their CTEC classes at the Salem Municipal Airport (free transportation provided). Working alongside industry professionals, students will have the opportunity to earn licensure as an airplane pilot, an aircraft maintenance technician, or a drone pilot. The program has many local industry partners as well as partnerships with national companies such as Alaska Airlines and Garmin. Students with an interest in flying, building, or repairing planes or drones will gain valuable experience and certification in the CTEC Aviation program.
Why
We want our students to be ready for whatever comes after high school. CTEC’s Aviation students work with state-of-the-art simulators, software, and equipment and learn the skills necessary to succeed in flying airplanes, repairing various airplane systems, and programming and operating unmanned autonomous systems (UAS). CTEC Aviation students graduate ready to fill the high-demand jobs in this industry. Our students are ready to start their careers with the following industry-relevant skills and knowledge:
- Interpret meteorological conditions and apply them to flight planning and aircraft operations
- Operate, maintain and repair avionics systems including communications, navigation, flight control, etc.
- Perform aircraft maintenance using current and emerging tools and technology
- Understand and implement the engineering process as it applies to drone programming and operations
- Specialize in either airplane piloting, aircraft maintenance, or drones.
- Certified with the general knowledge portion of the Airframe and Powerplant
- Certified with FAA Part 61 Private Pilot License
- Certified with FAA Part 107 Drone Operator’s License
How
Students in Aviation learn contextualized science and English. Students receive coaching and resources to explore career options they may want to pursue directly out of the program or with continued education. Coupled with the experiences they have throughout this program, they graduate with a plan and the ability to adjust the plan throughout their career. With a foundation of industry-standard skills, rigorous science and English training, and the ability to interact with state-of-the-art equipment, our students are ready to pursue their dreams and goals.
CTEC Aviation Staff
Jerreme Rhodes, Aviation Instructor
Jerreme earned his Bachelor of Science in Communication at Oral Roberts University, Master of Fine Arts in Script and Screenwriting at Regent University and has pursued further education toward teacher licensure at Corban University, Oregon State University, and Pacific University. Jerreme was an Instructional Assistant for Salem Keizer School District DLC classrooms for 11 years, Adjunct Faculty for Corban University for 5 years and he has been an Instructor in CTEC’s UAS Drone Technology & Robotics Program since 2020. He worked as a Stagehand for CBN Scenic for 3 years, Remote Videographer for CBN for 3 years, and he was an Independent Filmmaker for Studio Rhodes for 3 years. Jerreme’s favorite things about working at CTEC are the people and seeing students begin to make their dreams a reality. When he is not teaching, he enjoys being with family and friends, filmmaking, making music, and practicing Mandarin Chinese.
Trish Wilson, Aviation Instructional Assistant
Trish Wilson has worked at CTEC since 2020. She looks forward to being at CTEC every day and absolutely loves her team and students. When not at CTEC, she enjoys spending time with family, movies, beach trips and watching paranormal shows with her daughter.
Ronnie (RJ) Hampton, Aviation Instructor