(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Since the summer, Texas State Technical College Aircraft Powerplant student Ariadna Lona has been volunteering with aircraft maintenance company STX Aero at the Mid-Valley Airport in Weslaco.
“When I first started, I shadowed both owners and observed their responsibilities in the hangar,” Lona said. “Since I’m working toward my airframe and powerplant certifications, I’ve been helping with tasks such as removing spark plugs, performing a 100-hour engine inspection and examining the airframe and landing gear wheels.”
TSTC aviation maintenance alumnus Efrain Lopez is owner and lead mechanic at STX Aero.
“Ariadna’s attention to detail has grown beyond inspecting an aircraft’s wing to taking on a variety of tasks we assign her,” he said. “She understands that everything is done by the book in our hangar. We do not skip steps. The work we do is essential to ensuring these planes are safe to fly.”
Lona said that TSTC has given her a fresh perspective.
“I’ve appreciated the sense of camaraderie in the program, and the strong community feel the college provides,” she said.
Lona, who is working toward an associate degree in the program, is making steady progress as she prepares to test for the Aircraft Airframe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license.
“I’ve been studying the landing gear, auxiliary systems, hydraulics and pneumatics, wood structures and other areas,” she said.
The Alton native said her experience in the Aircraft Powerplant program has been worthwhile.
“We’ve been learning about theory and internal parts of the aircraft such as the engine,” she said.
Ramiro Chavez is one of Lona’s instructors.
“Arianda is an observant student whose strengths will make her an excellent aircraft mechanic in the industry,” he said. “Her strong work ethic is naturally reflected in everything she’s learning at STX Aero.”
According to onetonline.org, aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Texas earn an average of $80,320 a year. The website projected there would be a 14% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2022 to 2032.
TSTC offers associate degrees and certificates of completion in both Aircraft Airframe and Aircraft Powerplant at its Abilene, Harlingen and Waco campuses.
For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.