New Planes Taxi Into Centre for Applied Transportation Technologies

Fanshawe provided London with a miniature air show in April when two airplanes - a twin engine Piper Navajo (seats seven) and a single engine Cessna 150 (seats two) - were moved through the city to their new home at the Centre for Applied Transportation Technologies (CATT) on Oxford Street.

An unusual sight - an airplane in the intersection of Clarke Road and Oxford Street,
April 23, 2011.

The planes will be added to Fanshawe's growing list of resources for the new Aircraft Maintenance - Avionics program, which is set to launch at the CATT in September. The College has also purchased a disassembled Hawker 400 business jet and a Bell 206 helicopter, and JD Aero in Sault Ste. Marie has donated a section of fuselage from a Canadian Regional Jet. The fuselage will be used by Fanshawe students and by students in the Sault College Aircraft Structural Repair program.

Fanshawe's two-year Aircraft Maintenance - Avionics Technician diploma program will train students to repair and maintain aircraft electrical components, including GPS, radio, radar, and navigation equipment. In its first year, it will be able to accommodate about 40 students.

"This is a very exciting time for Fanshawe College and the School of Transportation Technology," said Rob Gorrie, Chair of the School of Transportation Technology. "With our expansion into aviation, we are positioning ourselves to provide top-quality education to students wanting an exciting career in the aviation industry. We now have four fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter and all of the related training equipment needed to provide support to this brand new program."

Fanshawe plans to add more aviation-related programs in coming years as demand increases for skilled workers in the industry.