November 20, 2007

'Day in College' offered for Indianapolis high-schoolers

Thirty-six Indianapolis-area high school students, nominated by their guidance counselors and teachers, will attend the event from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, 2175 S. Hoffman Road. The event is sponsored jointly by Purdue University College of Technology at Indianapolis, Vincennes University and AAR Aircraft Services.

"This new program gives Indianapolis-area students who are collegebound a great opportunity to see what Purdue and Vincennes have to offer," said Jon Aull, director of the Purdue College of Technology at Indianapolis. "It's a wonderful opportunity for students interested in aviation careers to get an up-close look at the educational opportunities offered right in their community."

Aull said the program will allow students and a parent or guardian to attend four short college-level classes. The classes will consist of a mixture of lecture and hands-on activities in four areas: aviation maintenance, flight, airport and airline management, and air-traffic control.

Students from high schools including Pike, Hamilton Southeastern, Greenwood and Heritage Christian, as well as the Area 31 and Walker career centers will participate.

The event will be followed by an open house of the facility from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Both Purdue and Vincennes universities offer degrees at the center. The facilities in Indianapolis include laboratories for advanced composites, avionics and electronics, air-traffic control, and non-destructive testing.

Purdue offers a bachelor's degree in aeronautical technology and associate's and bachelor's degrees in aviation management. Purdue also offers the Federal Aviation Administration Collegiate Training Initiative, which trains students with an aviation technology degree to become air-traffic controllers. The programs prepare students for careers in aerospace manufacturing, product support, aircraft maintenance and support, airline and airport management, and airline maintenance management.

Vincennes University offers an applied science degree in aviation maintenance technology, an associate's degree in aviation maintenance technology, and an FAA airframe and powerplant certificate.

Vincennes offers a transport category aircraft technician certificate using Boeing 737, courses to prepare for the FAA restricted radiotelephone operator permit, and courses to complete ground school for FAA private's pilot certificate and instrument rating. It also offers courses throughout the year that give students the opportunity to take a detailed look at the systems of large aircraft.

AAR Corp. is located at the Indianapolis Maintenance Center at the Indianapolis International Airport. AAR has been located at the facility since 2004, occupying the space formerly held by United Airlines. The company, based in Wood Dale, Ill., is a leading provider of aftermarket support to the worldwide aviation and aerospace industry. Its services include the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft and aircraft parts.

For information about this program at the Purdue College of Technology at Indianapolis, visit https://www.tech.purdue.edu/indy/  or contact Aull at (317) 381-6082, jaull@purdue.edu

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Jon C. Aull, (317) 484-1824, jaull@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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