College flying high

Photo: Contributed - Okanagan College.

Okanagan College is flying high after a second major donation from a local aviation company.

Kelowna-based Carson Air has donated a Metroliner II aircraft to the college's aircraft maintenance engineering program at Vernon Airport.

The $300,000 plane made its final flight Oct. 16, landing outside the college’s aerospace hangar.

“This aircraft has served Carson Air very well, and we are proud to see it put to use as a training tool at Okanagan College,” said Carson vice-president of operations Kevin Hillier. “We’ve hired numerous graduates of the college’s AME program over the years, so in a way, we are supporting the future of our industry and our company with this donation.”

Last month, Carson Air donated $125,000 to support the purchase of a flight simulator for the college's commercial aviation program in Kelowna.

“Support from industry plays a vital role in the college’s ability to provide high-quality training experiences,” said Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton. “We sincerely appreciate Carson Air’s investment in our students, Canada’s future aircraft maintenance engineers and aviators, through these very generous donations.”

Built in 1980, the Metroliner II saw service with two U.S. regional airlines before being imported to Canada, where it was converted to haul cargo.

Nearly 60 feet in length and with a wingspan to match, the 19-passenger, twin-engine turboprop has been part of Carson’s fleet since 1998.

The plane’s arrival in Vernon marks its retirement from service, after more than 35,000 hours in the air.

Dale Martell, head of the aircraft maintenance engineering program, said the plane will be used as a teaching tool for years.

“Electrical is one of the most challenging areas facing AME students, and so the hands-on experience they can get by working on an aircraft of this complexity is invaluable,” said Martell.

“The more types of aircraft we work on, the greater depth of experience we gain,” said student Ashley LaPointe. “This gives us pure experience on an aircraft we’ll definitely encounter out in the industry, which is very beneficial.”

Earlier this month, the college received a Jetstream 31 aircraft from the Swanberg family of Grande Prairie and Fort St. John. That aircraft was valued at nearly $700,000, putting the total in-kind value of aircraft received by the college in 2015 at an estimated $1 million.