Avionics News September 2017 - 44

you can imagine, it is a distinctive honor to intern with
the CAF, as only a couple of B-29s and B-24s are still
in the air. We are proud to have 10 students earn these
internships in the past five years.

TRAINING TOMORROW'S TECHNICIANS
Continued from page 43

working environment and starting pay. Other industries
continue to value the skills and training our avionics
students receive.

Avionics News: Do you currently partner with
local industry in any way, and if so, how is it working?
Mitchell: We have had a lot of support from the
industry, but one of our biggest supporters has been
Avidyne. Tom Harper is a great friend to the school.
Avidyne has donated many pieces of avionics equipment
over the years. Recently, the company remodeled its
facility and gave us a complete instrument panel. That's
been a great aid for our students.
Tom has come to our campus several times to provide
our students with training on Avidyne and other avionics
systems.

Avionics News: What is the typical yearly salary
of one of your graduates?
Mitchell: It varies for position and experience, but as a
whole, anywhere from $40,000 to $75,000 for the first year.

SIU Carbondale
students have
the opportunity
to get experience
with avionics for
both manned and
unmanned aircraft.

Avionics News: Do you have any active
internships or apprentice programs with local MROs or
OEMs?
Mitchell: Yes. We are fortunate to have good
opportunities for our students with industry leaders like
Boeing, Rockwell Collins, Gogo, Duncan Aviation, Jet
Support Services Inc., AAR Corp., General Electric and
the Illinois Department of Transportation.
One of the more coveted internships is the Division
Aeronautics, Commemorative Air Force B-29 and B-24
maintenance support. Most faculty members would love
to do this internship. The interns spend a considerable
period traveling around the country going to air shows
and fly-ins to help display the aircraft and give tours. As

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Photo by Rusty Bailey, SIUC Media & Communications

Avionics News: Do you offer industry training
short courses?
Mitchell: Currently, we only offer two courses: Bell
205 helicopter training, which is a weeklong course, and
the UAV drone certification course and FAA knowledge
test, which is a two-day course.

Avionics News: Why are your students coming to
Southern Illinois-Carbondale? Do you have any programs
to actively attract new avionics students?
Mitchell: The biggest reason we hear from the
various surveys is word-of-mouth. In addition, United and
American Airlines from Chicago sponsor career days once
a semester, which brings alums and high school students
with interest in aviation for tours.
We are also working with local community colleges
with computer and electronics systems degrees and
regional A&P schools offering articulation agreements.
Avionics News: What are you hearing from
industry on your placements and your programs about the
skill levels of your graduates?
Mitchell: More recently, we have been hearing
they need more graduates. The product is good, but the
quantity isn't keeping up with demand. We hear that a lot
from all kinds of companies.
It's a growing industry problem. Aviation jobs and
avionics should be talked about more with high school
students who have an interest in computers and other
technologies. Another problem is college advisors who
know little to nothing about our industry other than it has
something to do with pilots and airplanes. They can't give
guidance on a career path they know nothing about. We as
an industry need to work on that.
If we all don't start addressing these problems soon, we
are collectively looking at a restriction in the growth of
our industry and economy. q
To learn more about Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, visit aviation.siu.edu.
http://aviation.siu.edu
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News September 2017
