(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s aviation maintenance program celebrated a milestone on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing its designation as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) testing site.
The designation allows students to complete the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification testing process on the Harlingen campus.
City leaders, area businesses and TSTC industry partners attended the ceremony to recognize the achievement.
“We can now give students a more complete path to earning their A&P certification, right here in Harlingen,” said Carlos Rodriguez, TSTC’s aviation maintenance program team lead.
Before the designation, students had access to aviation maintenance training and FAA written testing at TSTC. The addition of DME-administered oral and practical examinations brings the remaining testing requirements to the campus.
The certification process requires students to pass the FAA knowledge test before advancing to oral and practical examinations administered by a DME. Applicants are evaluated in general aviation maintenance, airframe and powerplant subjects, including their understanding of maintenance principles, regulations and procedures and their ability to apply that knowledge through hands-on tasks.
Gina Cano-Monreal, provost of TSTC’s Harlingen campus, said the designation strengthens the college’s ability to help students transition from training to certification and employment.
“This approval reinforces TSTC’s commitment to providing best-in-class training that meets industry standards while helping meet the demand for skilled aviation mechanics,” she said.
Jose De Leon, owner of South Texas Aviation Services, LLC, served as an industry partner in the certification process.
“I’m looking for students to demonstrate they understand what they have learned and can put that knowledge into practice,” he said. “During the exam, they must be able to evaluate the problem, explain their reasoning for the chosen corrective action and perform that action safely and correctly.”
Registration is open for the spring semester. For more information, visit TSTC.edu.