As an Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) instructor, Omar Aguilera makes it clear to his students exactly what is at stake when they eventually work on large aircraft. “A doctor has a bad day and someone might die. An aircraft mechanic has a bad day and potentially 300 people could be killed.” It has a sobering effect and reminds his students of the importance of mastering skills, knowledge and intuitive qualities of the weighted career they have chosen.
Omar isn’t about to let someone slide through in his California Aeronautical University AMT class without mastering an essential understanding, training and skill performance. As a recent recipient of the Ivan D. Levi Aviation Maintenance ‘Educator of the Year’ award that recognizes outstanding AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technology) educators, he is devoted to preparing his students toward their highest degree of aircraft operation and safety.
How did you first become interested in aviation maintenance?
I was an aviation electrician in the military and was looking for a direct pathway to get my AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technology) education. I wanted to move to that next level, and I didn’t want community college curriculum of math, English, etc., that didn’t relate directly to that field. From start to finish, SJVC had a route that related more directly to the outcome I wanted.
What made SJVC’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program work for you?
It was two-fold. It was eye-opening for me knowledge-wise, and military aviation language vs. civil aviation language helped make the connection.
A huge part of my job in the military was growth of junior personnel, so I enjoyed tutoring and helping other students. I was the oldest in our class and had the most experience to share.
Any advice for someone considering a career in aviation maintenance?
Aviation is a whole new world. With cars you can experiment, but with aircraft you don’t have the opportunity to pull over when something goes wrong. It makes aircraft maintenance more surgical.
In this industry, as a licensed mechanic, you do a lot by yourself; you must do the right thing when no one is looking. Opportunities are wide open. You can take that focus and go anywhere nationwide.
Where did the Aviation Maintenance Technology program take you?
I went directly from being a student to becoming an educator. I realized that a lot of the things I was passionate about in this field related to educating. Everything in the education field aligned with what I envisioned for my career. I work for California Aeronautical University as Lead AMT faculty.
What do you most want from your students?
Come in with an open mind, ready to absorb. We’re going to give students a lot of information about safety and their mechanical responsibilities to that end – and what hangs in the balance with getting it or not getting it (knowledge). And not getting it could put someone in a life-or-death situation.
It’s a weighty undertaking. On Day One (classroom) someone might start to panic a little bit, and we have to talk them off the ledge.
When do you know a student ‘gets it’ and is ready to move forward?
Everyone learns differently. We go through a series of one-on-one applications to test their knowledge and capabilities. If they’re not getting something, running into barriers, we have a ‘help me help you’ moment. It’s not confrontational at all. Students need to approach the industry with an open mind and ready to absorb the amount of information they’re going to get.
It’s not really important to me if they’re experienced with tools, but that they have the passion and the willingness to listen and absorb – then, anything is possible.
Is there a type of student who has a better chance at success with aviation maintenance education?
There’s room for all in the classroom – inexperienced to experienced. We’re able to balance that knowledge and level it out in the classroom. Everyone wants to get to the same goal. Some want to follow, some want a leadership role. They walk in as individuals and at the end of the first term, they are a team.
What is one of the best things a student has said to you, as an instructor?
A former graduate came back and thanked our department for being honest about the industry. It was linked to the integrity piece – about doing the right thing when no one was looking because the potential safety lapse could be detrimental. Once he graduated and got that first job, he started to rely more on what we had told him about that concept and appreciated our frank assessment.
What do you most want your students to understand?
In this industry you must be able to pivot, try a different approach to solve a problem. It’s true in life. Whether a student is struggling with grades, attendance, homework or a different job path – pivot and fix the problem as opposed to ‘I don’t want to do this; I quit’.
Roadblocks happen. How do you prevent it from happening again. I look at that failure with them and help them understand how it happened and how they can keep that corrective thought process going.
What inspires you to teach at your highest level?
I love the industry. And knowing the level of education and training I have provided and what they will take with them to this industry, is really my contribution to the future of aviation maintenance.
I talk with my students about what they can expect from their career, how they can add to their toolbox and continue to contribute to creating success.
Do you have a favorite ‘instructor moment’?
When a student comes back and shares their experience. We have a Graduate Services team that works with students to create resumes and align graduates with companies where they might apply for positions.
They come back and tell us about their new jobs, how, after a couple of weeks, they feel like they’ve been there for months. We talk about how they can add to their tool box (competency) and how they can continue to contribute, be successful.
What was your reaction to recently being named ‘ATEC Educator of the Year’?
I received an email in February from ATEC (Aviation Technician Education Council) that I was selected. I didn’t know that I had been nominated by our provost. The award was presented to me at the ATEC conference March 17 with a packed room of educators and executives from the industry. It was an affirmation of what I do and how well I’m doing it.
