Goodrich Aviation has been offering aircraft maintenance services in the Binghamton area for nearly 25 years. We have a regular clientele of aircraft owners from all over the region that we take care of, we maintain the fleet of flight training aircraft for the Goodrich Pilot Training Center, and we do a number of aircraft modifications including whole aircraft parachute systems and air conditioning installations. Recently we have started a new company that assembles kit aircraft called Custom Aircraft Builders. Needless to say, we do a lot of fun and interesting things in our shop. No day is the same. 

Our Apprenticeship program begins as a non-paid position. A tool box and basic set of tools is provided. Apprentices begin observing others on our team and performing simple tasks. They also begin to work some of the easier tasks on the kit aircraft. As experience is gained and skills are developed, apprentices move up to higher level tasks and projects. Once a specific set of skills and performance is reached, an apprentice can move into a paid position but not until at least the 18 month point of the program. 

We use a systems and skills approach to training new mechanics. When we work on a system, we teach how it operates in order to understand how to diagnose and troubleshoot problems or perform repairs. There are a number of skills to this trade. Some we teach in advance and others we teach as the need or opportunity arises. Our program is very good at preparing apprentices for the practical exam taken during the testing phase after 30 months of experience. It’s also good at preparing for the three written exams but the majority of preparation for those will be via self-study on their own time.

Apprentices can choose from three areas to focus on during their training: general, avionics, or paint.