Maintenance Technology

College of Rural Alaska
Tanana Valley Campus
(907) 455-2809

Certificate; A.A.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 31-49 credits; for Degree: 64-69 credits

Downloadable PDF (100K)

Maintenance technology offers an A.A.S. degree and certificates in four areas: airframe, powerplant, airframe and powerplant, or ground vehicle maintenance technology.

Students who receive a certificate in airframe and powerplant or ground vehicle maintenance technology may elect to complete the A.A.S. degree in maintenance technology to enhance their employability.

Students in the airframe and powerplant certificate program may complete requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration mechanic’s certificate with both airframe and powerplant ratings in as little as one year. The aviation maintenance program covers many subject areas, but it places special emphasis on those skills most sought after in the Alaska job market. Through classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction, this intensive curriculum prepares students for entry into the aviation field. Graduates who pass the FAA examinations for the airframe and powerplant ratings are qualified for entry-level positions in the maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification of aircraft.

Students interested in qualifying for an FAA airframe mechanic’s certificate may choose to earn only the airframe certificate, and those who wish to qualify for an FAA powerplant mechanic’s certificate may choose to earn only the powerplant certificate.

The ground vehicle maintenance technology certificate program offers training in the maintenance and repair of trucks, buses, light-duty trucks, automobiles and heavy equipment. This one-year program emphasizes hands-on training and in-class experience as students perform preventive maintenance inspections, determine causes of equipment problems and make necessary repairs and adjustment from tune-ups to complete engine and equipment overhauls. Students work on large truck, small truck, and passenger car fuel, electrical and air systems; diesel engines, gasoline engines, transmissions and differentials; and crawler tractor undercarriages, steering and final drives.

Admission to the airframe and powerplant program concentration is at the discretion of the program faculty and requires an interview with the faculty advisor.

Airframe and Powerplant—Certificate Program

  1. Complete the general university requirements (As part of the certificate requirements, the communication, computation and human relations content is embedded in the major required courses for this program).
  2. Complete the certificate requirements.
  3. Complete the following general requirements:

    AFPM 145—Basic Mathematics 1 credit

    AFPM 146—Basic Electricity 2 credits

    AFPM 147—Physics for Mechanics 0.5 credit

    AFPM 148—Aircraft Drawing 1 credit

    AFPM 149—Fluid Lines and Fitting 0.5 credit

    AFPM 150—Materials and Processes 2 credits

    AFPM 151—Cleaning and Corrosion Control 1 credit

    AFPM 152—Federal Aviation Regulations 1 credit

    AFPM 153—Weight and Balance 1 credit

    AFPM 154—Ground Operations and Servicing 0.5 credit
  4. Complete the following airframe structures requirements:

    AFPM 261—Non Metallic Structures 1 credit

    AFPM 262—Aircraft Coverings 1 credit

    AFPM 263—Aircraft Finishes 0.5 credit

    AFPM 264—Sheet Metal Structures 3 credits

    AFPM 265—Aircraft Welding 1.5 credits

    AFPM 266—Assembly and Rigging 1.5 credits

    AFPM 267—Airframe Inspections 0.5 credit

    AFPM 270—Airframe Testing 0.5 credits
  5. Complete the following airframe systems and components requirements:

    AFPM 230—Aircraft Electrical Systems 2.5

    AFPM 253—Transport Category Aircraft 1 credit

    AFPM 254—Ice and Rain Control Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 256—Communications and Navigation Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 258—Cabin Atmosphere Control Systems 1 credit

    AFPM 259—Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 260—Aircraft Landing Gear Systems 1.5 credits
  6. Complete the following powerplant theory and maintenance requirements:

    AFPM 235—Aircraft Reciprocating Engines 4.5 credits

    AFPM 240—Turbine Engines 2 credits

    AFPM 271—Powerplant Inspections 0.5 credit

    AFPM 272—Powerplant Testing 0.5 credit
  7. Complete the following powerplant systems and components requirements:

    AFPM 231—Powerplant Electrical Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 244—Lubrication Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 245—Ignition Systems 2 credits

    AFPM 246—Fuel Metering Systems 2 credits

    AFPM 248—Induction Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 249—Powerplant Cooling Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 250—Powerplant Exhaust Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 252—Propellers 2 credits
  8. Complete the following combined systems and components requirements:

    AFPM 251—Fuel Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 255—Fire Protection Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 257—Instrument Systems 0.5 credits
  9. Minimum credits required 49

Airframe—Certificate Program

  1. Complete the certificate requirements (As part of the certificate requirements, the communication, computation and human relations content is embedded in the major required courses for this program)
  2. Complete the following general requirements:

    AFPM 145—Basic Mathematics 1 credit

    AFPM 146—Basic Electricity 2 credits

    AFPM 147—Physics for Mechanics 0.5 credit

    AFPM 148—Aircraft Drawing 1 credit

    AFPM 149—Fluid Lines and Fitting 0.5 credit

    AFPM 150—Materials and Processes 2 credits

    AFPM 151—Cleaning and Corrosion Control 1 credit

    AFPM 152—Federal Aviation Regulations 1 credit

    AFPM 153—Weight and Balance 1 credit

    AFPM 154—Ground Operations and Servicing 0.5 credit
  3. Complete the following airframe structures requirements:

    AFPM 261—Non Metallic Structures 1 credit

    AFPM 262—Aircraft Coverings 1 credit

    AFPM 263—Aircraft Finishes 0.5 credit

    AFPM 264—Sheet Metal Structures 3 credits

    AFPM 265—Aircraft Welding 1.5 credits

    AFPM 266—Assembly and Rigging 1.5 credits

    AFPM 267—Airframe Inspections 0.5 credit

    AFPM 270—Airframe Testing 0.5 credits
  4. Complete the following airframe systems and components requirements:
    AFPM 230—Aircraft Electrical Systems 2.5 credits

    AFPM 253—Transport Category Aircraft 1 credit

    AFPM 254—Ice and Rain Control Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 256—Communications and Navigation Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 258—Cabin Atmosphere Control Systems 1 credit

    AFPM 259—Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 260—Aircraft Landing Gear Systems 1.5 credits
  5. Complete the following combined systems and components requirements:

    AFPM 251—Fuel Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 255—Fire Protection Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 257—Instrument Systems 0.5 credits
  6. Minimum credits required 31

Powerplant—Certificate Program

  1. Complete the certificate requirements (As part of the certificate requirements, the communication, computation and human relations content is embedded in the major required courses for this program).
  2. Complete the following general requirements:

    AFPM 145—Basic Mathematics 1 credit

    AFPM 146—Basic Electricity 2 credits

    AFPM 147—Physics for Mechanics 0.5 credit

    AFPM 148—Aircraft Drawing 1 credit

    AFPM 149—Fluid Lines and Fitting 0.5 credit

    AFPM 150—Materials and Processes 2 credits

    AFPM 151—Cleaning and Corrosion Control 1 credit

    AFPM 152—Federal Aviation Regulations 1 credit

    AFPM 153—Weight and Balance 1 credit

    AFPM 154—Ground Operations and Servicing 0.5 credits
  3. Complete the following powerplant theory and maintenance requirements:

    AFPM 235—Aircraft Reciprocating Engines 4.5

    AFPM 240—Turbine Engines 2 credits

    AFPM 271—Powerplant Inspections 0.5 credit

    AFPM 272—Powerplant Testing 0.5 credits
  4. Complete the following powerplant and systems components requirements:

    AFPM 231—Powerplant Electrical Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 244—Lubrication Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 245—Ignition Systems 2 credits

    AFPM 246—Fuel Metering Systems 2 credits

    AFPM 248—Induction Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 249—Powerplant Cooling Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 250—Powerplant Exhaust Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 252—Propellers 2 credits
  5. Complete the following combined systems and components requirements:

    AFPM 251—Fuel Systems 1.5 credits

    AFPM 255—Fire Protection Systems 0.5 credit

    AFPM 257—Instrument Systems 0.5 credits
  6. Minimum credits required 31

Note: This is a one-year program, usually starting at the end of May or beginning of June. Entry at other times is allowed only with departmental approval. A personal background check and drug test will be required prior to acceptance into the airframe and powerplant, airframe or powerplant certificate programs.

Ground Vehicle Maintenance—Certificate Program

Concentrations: Automotive, Diesel/Heavy Equipment, Power Generation

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the certificate requirements.
  3. Complete the following:

    AUTO 110—Auto/Diesel Electrical Systems Fundamentals 4 credits

    AUTO 113—Gasoline Fuel Delivery Systems 4 credits

    DSLT 135—Internal Combustion Engines 5 credits
  4. Complete and pass an applied math proficiency exam to complete certificate requirements.
  5. Complete 1 of the following concentrations:

    Automotive
    a. Complete the following:

    AUTO 106—Auto/Diesel Engine Cooling and Climate Control Systems 4

    AUTO 107—Hydraulic Brake and Traction Control Systems 4

    AUTO 108—Suspension, Steering and Wheel Alignment 4

    AUTO 111—Automotive Electronic System Fundamentals 4

    AUTO 114—Auto/Diesel Emission Control Systems 4 credits

    b. Minimum credits required 39

    Diesel/Heavy Equipment
    a. Complete the following:

    DSLT 123—Heavy Duty Braking Systems 2 credits

    DSLT 201—Manual Transmissions and Differentials 4 credits

    DSLT 253—Diesel Fuel Delivery Systems 5 credits

    MECN 210—Hydraulics 2 credits

    WMT 103—Welding I 3 credits

    WMT 105—Welding II 3 credits

    b. Minimum credits required 38

    Power Generation
    a. Complete the following:

    MECN 201—Advanced Mobile Equipment Electronics 2 credits

    MECN 202—Principles of Electric Drive Vehicles 2 credits

    MECN 203—Basic Power Generation 3 credits

    MECN 204—Basic Alternating Current Electrician Skills 2 credits

    MECN 205—Uninterruptable Power Supplies 1 credit

    MECN 206—Emergency Backup Power Generation 1 credit

    MECN 207—Power Generation Governors 2 credits

    MECN 208—Alternative Fuels 2 credits

    AUTO, DSLT or MECN electives* 4 credits

    b. Minimum credits required 38

* Any AUTO, DSLT or MECN elective credits.
Note: A student may request credit by examination for any AUTO, DSLT or MECN class. See department coordinator for details.

Major—A.A.S. Degree

Concentrations: Automotive, Airframe and Powerplant, Diesel/Heavy Equipment

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the A.A.S. degree requirements.
  3. Complete 1 of the following concentrations:*

    Automotive
    a. Complete the requirements for the ground vehicle maintenance technology – automotive certificate 33
    b. Complete the following maintenance technology A.A.S. degree core courses:

    AUTO 209—Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles 5 credits

    AUTO 215—Engine Analyzers, Scopes and Scan Tools 4 credits

    AUTO 219—The Auto/Diesel Repair Business 2 credits

    DSLT 201—Manual Transmissions and Differentials 4 credits

    DSLT 253—Diesel Fuel Delivery Systems 5 credits

    c. Minimum credits required 68

    Airframe and Powerplant
    a. Complete the requirements for the airframe and powerplant certificate 49 credits
    b. Minimum credits required 64 credits

    Diesel/Heavy Equipment
    a. Complete the requirements for the ground vehicle maintenance technology—diesel/heavy equipment certificate 32 credits
    b. Complete the following maintenance technology A.A.S. degree core courses:

    DSLT 202—Heavy Duty Automatic Transmissions 2 credits

    DSLT 255—Final Drives, Tracked Vehicles 2 credits

    AUTO 106—Auto/Diesel Engine Cooling and Climate Control Systems 4 credits

    AUTO 107—Hydraulic Brake and Traction Control Systems 4 credits

    AUTO 108—Suspension, Steering and Wheel Alignment 4 credits

    AUTO 114—Auto/Diesel Emission Control Systems 4 credits

    AUTO 219—The Auto/Diesel Repair Business 2 credits

    c. Minimum credits required 69

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.