CCAF puts airframe, powerplant courses online Published Dec. 2, 2008 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Aircraft maintenance technicians participating in the Air Force Airframe and Powerplant Certification Program are now able to complete the three Air Force A&P Mechanic Specialized Courses through Air University Online. The courses are part of the program requirements, after which graduates are eligible to test for the Federal Aviation Administration A&P certification. "These courses were developed to fulfill the formal education requirement of the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council A&P Program," said Chief Master Sgt. William Wade, Air Force Aircraft Maintenance career field manager and JSAMTCC chair. The courses are designed to bridge the gap between military and civilian aircraft maintenance training and education, and prepare military technicians for the FAA A&P certification exams. The courses are available to technicians serving in all branches of the military. "The courses are an important element of the Air Force A&P Certification Program," said J.R. Breeding, chief of Certification Programs and JSAMTCC co-chair. The voluntary program, offered by the Community College of the Air Force, provides certification opportunity for technicians that traditionally do not meet FAA eligibility per Title 14, CFR Part 65.77. It also helps technicians obtain FAA certification by providing training and experience in a broad range of aircraft maintenance practices and skills. Converting the paper-based courses to Air University Online was a coordinated effort between the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning, the 362nd Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base and CCAF. The goal was to reduce the amount of time technicians spend to complete each course while maintaining course learning objectives. The Air University Online courses feature a series of units and unit review exercises, or progress exams, that eliminate the traditional proctored end-of-course examination administered at the Base Education Flight. "Because the technician is tested throughout the entire course, there is no need for an EOC exam ... which the technicians requested," he said. "Previously, technicians made several trips to their base education flight to enroll, order the [end of course] exam, and take the EOC for all three courses. Now that the courses are online, technicians can complete the entire course process from their home or work computer without visiting the education flight," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Nelson, Certifications Flight NCOIC. To learn more about the Air Force A&P Certification Program, visit www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/certifications.asp. To learn more about the Air University Online A&P Specialized Courses and to enroll, visit at https://au.csd.disa.mil.