Soaring to New Heights: ALA Applied Tech’s Aviation Program Makes History with FAA Certification
Soaring to New Heights: ALA Applied Tech’s Aviation Program Makes History with FAA Certification
A Historic Achievement – First in Arizona
On December 3, 2024, American Leadership Academy’s Applied Technologies campus accomplished an unprecedented feat for a high school. During a rigorous Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performance assessment, the Aviation Maintenance Program earned ZERO findings, a perfect result. This paved the way for ALA Applied Technologies to become Arizona’s first FAA-certified high school Aircraft Maintenance program – and one of only three high schools in the entire nation with this certification. In early 2025, the FAA officially awarded ALA Applied Tech its CFR Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician School certificate, confirming the program’s elite status. It’s a milestone that has educators, students, and industry partners buzzing with excitement.
What exactly does this mean? In essence, ALA Applied Tech’s Aviation Academy is now recognized under FAA Certification as a certified Aviation Maintenance Technician School, similar to a college-level aviation trade program. Under FAA’s Title 14 CFR Part 147 rules, certificated schools can train students to meet the requirements for FAA mechanic licenses (Airframe and Powerplant). Achieving this as a high school is almost unheard of – such certification is typically reserved for vocational colleges and dedicated aviation trade school institutes. “We are the only high school in the Western United States to have this certification. This is usually reserved for junior colleges,” notes Dr. Bobby Martin, ALA’s Aviation Academy Program Coordinator, underscoring how extraordinary the accomplishment truly is.
Why This FAA Certification Matters
This FAA-certified CFR Part 147 designation isn’t just a title – it’s a game-changer for students and the community. First, it signifies that ALA’s program meets the same stringent standards as the best Aviation Career Training schools in the country. The FAA approval validates the quality of the curriculum, instructors, and facilities. “It holds a lot of significance in providing opportunities for our students that they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Dr. Martin emphasizes. Students in the program will graduate with the training credentials to directly test for FAA mechanic certification, something most aspiring aircraft technicians can only pursue after high school at specialized institutes. In Dr. Martin’s words: “This will greatly support our students with the credentials for a viable career in aviation.”
By embedding an Aviation Trade School experience within a high school, ALA is giving its students a head start that usually comes much later in life. It challenges the notion that skilled trades training must wait until college. With the Part 147 certification, ALA Applied Tech is proving that motivated teenagers – with the right support – can master college-level technical material. The program underwent a meticulous FAA evaluation process and passed with flying colors, demonstrating dedication to excellence in education. For parents and students, this offers confidence that the Aviation Academy isn’t just an elective club or basic shop class; it’s a serious, industry-vetted pathway into the aerospace field.
This will greatly support our students with the credentials for a viable career in aviation. - Dr. Bobby Martin, ALA’s Aviation Academy Program Coordinator
Inside the ALA Aviation Academy – Training Future Pilots and Technicians
The Aviation Academy at ALA Applied Technologies is structured like a collegiate program, but wrapped into a supportive high school environment. Students choose between two primary tracks: Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Aviation Transportation (AT). In the AMT track, students learn to maintain and repair aircraft mechanical systems, working towards the same Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) knowledge that FAA-certified mechanics require. In the AT (Transportation) track, students study aerodynamics, weather, air traffic control, drone piloting, and even get a head start on flight ground school for pilot training. This dual-track approach means ALA’s Aviation Academy can launch both future aircraft technicians and future pilots – a unique breadth for a high school program.
Facilities and faculty make all the difference. Under Dr. Bobby Martin’s leadership, the academy leverages over 43 years of his aviation experience. Dr. Martin’s background spans military and civilian aviation, including decades teaching at the college level, ensuring the program’s rigor matches industry expectations. And the hands-on resources for students are truly impressive. For example, the campus recently welcomed a full airplane fuselage as a training aid, literally bringing a real aircraft body on-site for students to practice on. “This incredible addition provides hands-on learning opportunities for our future pilots and aviation technicians,” ALA announced in a December update. Students can roll up their sleeves to rivet panels, trace wiring, and troubleshoot systems on actual aircraft sections. Coupled with turbine engines and other equipment already in the program, these experiences go well beyond textbooks. Every day, teens in the Aviation Academy might be found turning wrenches on an airplane, taxiing a simulator, or launching drones – learning by doing in the most literal sense.
The school’s broader Applied Technologies model supports this immersive approach. ALA Applied Technologies (Pre-K–12) is Arizona’s first full-service, tuition-free public charter focused on trade and technical education, blending academics with real-world skills. In addition to aviation, students can pursue fields like automotive, construction, health services, and more. The Aviation Academy, however, has become a crown jewel thanks to its new FAA certification. It exemplifies the school’s mission to “Learn. Lead. Change the World.” by preparing young people to excel in high-demand industries straight out of high school.
High-Demand Careers on the Horizon
Why invest in programs like aviation at the high school level? Simply put, the aerospace industry needs fresh talent – and offers excellent rewards. Both aviation maintenance and piloting are experiencing strong demand, with retiring workers and industry growth creating a wealth of job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 13,400 openings for aircraft mechanics and service technicians are projected each year through the next decade. These roles paid a median annual salary of $75,000 as of 2023, with top technicians earning well over $90,000 per year. Airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and the military are all seeking certified A&P mechanics to keep aircraft flying safely.
For aspiring pilots, the outlook is equally encouraging. The FAA predicts a continued need for commercial and airline pilots, and BLS data shows roughly 18,000 pilot job openings per year in the United States. Commercial pilots earned a median of about $113,000 annually, while airline pilots had a staggering median wage of $219,000 in 2023. These six-figure salary opportunities usually require years of training – but ALA students are already on that journey in high school. By graduating with ground school completed or even a private pilot’s license theory in hand, along with real flight simulator experience, graduates can fast-track into collegiate aviation programs or flight academies. In both maintenance and piloting, ALA’s early training gives students a competitive edge.
Industry leaders have taken note. Partnerships are forming to support the pipeline of ALA’s graduates. One standout Aviation Academy student recently earned an exclusive internship with Gulfstream Aerospace as a high schooler, something virtually unheard of. With the Aviation Academy’s FAA recognition, local aviation companies and airlines are more confident than ever to invest in these students through internships, mentorships, and eventually, job offers. For the students, the sky is truly the limit – some may go on to become airline captains or lead mechanics for major airlines, others might become aerospace engineers or UAV operators. The foundational skills gained at ALA Applied Tech open countless doors.
Charting a Course for the Future
The success of the Aviation Academy’s FAA certification is about more than one school – it carries broader implications for education and industry. It sends a clear message to parents and educators that career technical education can coexist with academic excellence, starting in K-12. Students don’t have to choose between college prep and hands-on skill training; at ALA Applied Technologies, they are mastering both. As Dr. Martin and his team have shown, with high standards and industry collaboration, high schoolers can perform at a professional level. This achievement also challenges more high schools to follow suit in fields like aviation, advanced manufacturing, and technology. As the aviation industry faces workforce shortages, ALA’s model could be a blueprint for how communities can “grow their own” talent by engaging students earlier.
Most importantly, this milestone is a testament to the hard work and dreams of ALA’s students. They are teenagers taking on big responsibilities – inspecting aircraft components, adhering to FAA regulations, drilling until their skills are second nature – all because they are passionate about flying and fixing airplanes. That enthusiasm and dedication are exactly what the FAA saw in ALA’s program. It’s learning with a purpose.
As we celebrate this prestigious certification, ALA Applied Tech is not resting on its laurels. The Academy plans to expand its fleet of training aircraft and introduce even more Aviation Career Training opportunities (from avionics to unmanned aerial systems) to stay on the cutting edge. Middle school “feeder” programs are in the works to spark interest in aviation at younger ages. The school’s leadership is also engaging with aviation industry partners to ensure curriculum and equipment keep pace with real-world advances. In short, ALA is doubling down on its commitment to be a leader in FAA-certified high school programs.
Join Us to Build Tomorrow’s Aviation Workforce
For parents and students interested in aviation: now is the time to get on board. Opportunities like the ALA Aviation Academy can propel a student’s passion into a high-paying, fulfilling aviation career years sooner than traditional routes. For industry professionals and aviation enthusiasts: consider partnering with ALA Applied Tech – through guest lectures, donated equipment, or internship opportunities – to help nurture this next generation of aerospace professionals.
What started as a bold idea – a high school functioning as an Aviation Trade School – is now a proven reality. With FAA Part 147 certification in hand, ALA Applied Technologies’ Aviation Academy has cleared the runway for its students’ success. Aviation dreams are taking flight here in Arizona, and the ripple effects will be felt in the skies for years to come. In the spirit of ALA’s motto, these young Pathfinders truly “learn, lead, and change the world,” one plane at a time – and they invite you to soar with us into this exciting future.