Antelope Valley College's Bachelor of Science program in Airframe Manufacturing Technology (AFMT) has earned accreditation from the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.
According to ABET's accredited program directory, AVC offers the only ABET-accredited program in Airframe Manufacturing Technology. The recognition marks a milestone for a community college program preparing students for technical and leadership roles in the aerospace industry.
ABET is a nonprofit quality assurance organization whose voluntary peer-review process evaluates academic programs against standards developed by technical professionals. Its reviews examine curriculum, faculty, facilities and institutional support, with a focus on what students experience and learn.
“ABET accreditation signals programmatic excellence and proof of quality. Attaining this accreditation requires meticulous attention to detail and courage to maintain standards of excellence,” said AVC Superintendent/President Dr. Jennifer Zellet. “Once again, our aerospace programming is paving the way for others to follow.”
AVC's AFMT program combines instruction in aircraft structures, composites and electronics with manufacturing process improvement, quality assurance and leadership. It prepares students to help manufacture aircraft structural components to civilian and military specifications.
“For our students, ABET accreditation validates the quality of their education and strengthens the recognition of their degree,” said Alfred Brubaker, chair of AVC’s Aerospace Science and Technology Department and lead faculty for Airframe Manufacturing Technology. “For our aerospace employers, it provides additional confidence that our graduates possess the technical knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership abilities needed in today's advanced aerospace manufacturing environment.”
Brubaker, who led the program through the accreditation process, described a senior capstone project that brought classroom learning directly into the workplace. A group of students already employed in aerospace researched a manufacturing issue at their workplace, evaluated possible solutions and presented an improvement proposal to company management.
According to Brubaker, the company implemented the students' proposed improvements, adopted the manufacturing practice across the site and recognized the students for their contributions to quality improvements.
The program offers a local pathway to a bachelor's degree for students completing qualifying associate-level preparation in aircraft fabrication and assembly or aeronautical and aviation technology. Students can complete the upper-division program in two years of full-time study, with evening classes available.
“The real measure of our success will always be what our graduates go on to accomplish,” Brubaker said.
For program information, visit avc.edu/program/afmt.
