Avionics News September 2012 - 48

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How long have you worked at Spartan?

Frank Pendergrass of Spartan College
grams with the help of our advisory committees.

With...
You have seen incredible change in avionics during your time at Spartan.
Absolutely. I’ve seen things happen that I would never believe, and I saw things that I told people would happen, and they didn’t believe me. We have glass panels in general aviation aircraft, which few people predicted. Now, we are flying Cessna 172s with glass. There have been lots of changes in the industry and here at Spartan. Spartan’s founder, W. G. Skelly, understood the need for aviation in the oil industry. Spartan filled that gap, and we’ve always been able to adapt to new technologies with different programs. We look at what the customer needs. One example is in 2006, when our advisory committee told us we needed to redo the avionics program and make it more a flightline program than a bench program, and we listened.

I’ve worked at Spartan for 31 years, and I’ve been in the business 56 years.

Where were you prior to Spartan?

I spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy as an avionics tech. After that, I kicked around some, got into education, and then came to Spartan in 1981.

Are you from Oklahoma?
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ince 1928, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, Okla., has been training professionals for aviation and related industries. Spartan’s handson training combined with diploma and degree options prepare graduates for a variety of career choices, including avionics technician and aviation maintenance. Recently, Patricia Luebke, Avionics News contributor, spoke with Frank Pendergrass to learn more about his work at Spartan College.

Yes, I am an Oklahoma native. I was born in Sequoyah County and graduated from Sallisaw High School. I attended the University of Oklahoma but couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do, so I dropped out in 1955 and joined the Navy.

When you joined the Navy, did you have an interest in electronics?

No, I had no interest in electronics. I had never even seen an electron before, but the Navy put me through a battery of tests. It must have been my math skills, because I am not mechanical.

Tell me about the advisory committee.

Is part of your job recruiting students?

Let’s begin with your title and responsibilities.
I am director of education on Spartan’s South campus and responsible for our avionics program, our Associate of Applied Science degree and our Bachelor of Science in aviation management.
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No, I don’t get involved in recruiting, but I hire, train and monitor the instructors. I am responsible for the curriculum. In fact, we rewrote the curriculum for the avionics program in 2007. Back in 1990, I wrote and installed the Bachelor of Science program, and we monitor all of our pro-

They are aviation industry experts we rely upon, including members from the AEA and NCATT, to give us input and let us know what we’re doing right and wrong. The committee meets twice a year, and they come here and talk about curriculum and equipment. They take a tour, look at classes, speak with students and instructors, ask for suggestions and then we sit down and talk about the changes we need to make.

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Avionics News September 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News September 2012