Blackhawk Aviation Maintenance Technician

[Krebs20]

I am a student at Blackhawk Technical College in the Aviation Maintenance Technician program. My school has decided in its best interest to close the AMT program for good.

My class with be the last to go through the program until it is shut down. I have 3 more semesters to go. I plan to update this thread with what I'm learning and how its going as a student in a complicated program.

A over look of the piston engines shop.

 

 

 

A random picture in the hangar.

 

 

 

I hope people enjoy this thread. It will be last of the program that started in the 1950s.

Edited January 18, 2012 by Krebs20
took an E out of Hangar. Smart phones only think at your level.

[leafer]

Any idea why they're shutting it down?

[Krebs20]

Garrett TFE 731

 

I was assigned an engine to work on today. Its a beast of a motor. The Garrett TFE731. Now Honeywell TFE731.

 

Its the only one we have a school. It was donated by NASA about 10 years ago from use as an experimental noise reduction test bed. As such, its filled with holes, wires, and other random sensors for the run stand. Top that off. Its not an documented engine. Its going to be a real challenge to tear it down and put it back together again. All the paper work I have for it doesn't match the exact motor I have. I mean its the same. But off. Hard to explain without way more pictures that I'm too busy to take. I do have a type certificate and that will get me started.

 

[sobek]

GL with that and keep posting pics (if time permits).:)

[Krebs20]

Time for an update. The engine oil/lubricating system has been torn down and reassembled. The metal chip detector, Checked OK. My 150 hour inspection has only the generator spline shaft left to be inspected and its good to go. In the picture the filter was still removed. We plan to reuse it. Its a test stand engine, but the manual also says its okay if passes inspection. The old oil was breaking down. That's what prompted the tear down and cleaning. Its all reassembled and safety wired now.

 

 

Did I mention that the teacher was going to have me learn this engine by doing its service functions on hour inspection table. When I complete the last 150 hour inspection, Ill start doing the 300 hr ones. That will be some fun stuff. Like tearing out the fan!

 

In my systems class, we are working on oxygen systems. I had to smile when the teacher handed out the on demand system. (see pic) It was like I have seen it somewhere before:smartass:.

 

In electrical systems we are working on Nickle cadmium batteries. I have been assigned this one. I have a full service to do on it.

I was also giving a lead acid battery. But I didnt bother to take a picture of that. Its in another room and cannot be put near the NiCad or risk them neturalizing each other. Not cool.

 

 

If anyone hasn't noticed. I don't take pictures of other classmates and I wont. So all of my pictures wont have any life in them. A sign of whats happening when the school closes. Still makes me sad.

In no order, CH-47, 2X Cessna 172s, Cessna 206 Turbo, and the Cessna 210.

 

The Lear 23 and Huey

 

 

Ill keep taking pictures Sobek. I know my post my be hard to read and all over the place. But its helping me collect my thoughts on what I'm learning each day and helps me process it before I go to bed.

 

@ leafer, Money and politics. This is an expensive program, that can't be ignored. But the school board just canceled it without any attempt to cut cost 1st. Its really frustrating. There's really nothing that can be done about it. The board has the power to do that. Sadly they are cutting one of best aviation schools in the Midwest. Because it cost money they would rather spend on office furniture. They almost had to pass getting new this year but they found a way to increase that budget. I could make a wall of text a mile long on what was said and how it went down. But I'm not effected by the program shutting down, and I'm very angry that its getting canned. Everything I show on this thread will never be taught again. No one can come to my school and be an AMT. I will be the last. I'm sure as hell not going to mess it up. /endrant!

[leafer]

good luck! :thumbup:

[Krebs20]

Update

 

I think its time for an update. I have finished my GFE731 tasked to start with. Now I'm focusing on a blade inspections. I took off the front inlet to make my life easier. Clean clean clean. Type I inspection dyes coming up.

 

The rest of my class is tearing down Rolls Royce Allison 250's. Here a shot of a compressor.

 

One group has to still get an engine to work on. They have to get it out still. I was helping them when ever I got light headed on MEK. We took all the lines off and wiring harnesses. We ran out of time to pull the motor. We left all the main bolts in and have the hoist locked. Tomorrow we can pull the bolts then the motor all at once. Should make some good photos if I can. Unless they need my help.

 

PT6 on the King Air. Its in the hanger now so we can work on it next week. The Barron was sent out into the cold.

[Krebs20]

I have not forgotten about this thread. I have been moving the last 2 weeks. I still don't have the internet as my apartment. So a phone update today. No pictures cause bad upload speed. I'll post a bunch when its fixed.

School is still going well. I was able to try out liquid dye testing in NDT. That was cool to find the defects in worn out parts. Did an AD on the Allison 250's nut. The Garrett 731 has some unique issues to contend with. Mostly a problem locating parts that are missing and finding parts that need to be replaced.

[Griffin]

Interesting stuff man! Wish my job with turbofans was actually as diverse as it used to be in school. Well if this company goes down then I hope to work in a smaller company with diverse aircraft and systems.