"Aviation-mechanics program killed"-Daily News March 12, 2005

"Glendale Community College officials voted Friday to drop the campus's 60-yeard-old aviation-mechanics program...the FAA-certified two-year program that teaches students how to repair aircraft engines."

Students enrolled in classes will have to transfer to Mount San Antonio College or West Los Angeles Community College-the two other schools which offer the program.

A history of Glendale City College (GCC) Aviation Dept. written by A. R. Owen

The Aviation / Transportation Department at Glendale Community College has a 61 year history going back to the year of 1938, when the government initiated a pilot training program called CPTP - Civilian Pilot Training Program. This program was initiated by the CAA (predecessor of the current FAA - Federal Aviation Administration), because of the growing concern over the possibility of World War, and the threat to our national security. The program's goal was to create a pool of college trained civilian pilots, from which the flying branches of the military could draw, should the need arise. Three hundred colleges were selected across the country - GCC being one of them.

In the spring of 1939, the GCC Aeronautical Dept. was started, having only one instructor teaching only three aviation related classes. The instructor was Thomas S. Ryan. The school term of 1939-1940 saw the initiation of mechanic training along with pilot training. The year 1940-1941 saw additional aviation related subjects added to the training curriculum. In the fall semester of 1941, an additional instructor was added to the growing needs of the Aviation Dept. - Walter C. Roberts.

By the 1942-1943 school term, another instructor was necessary, and the first woman instructor in the department joined the other two - Anne Rambo, who was a flight instructor. The aviation program was additionally involved in the training of officers for the Air Corp. One thing might be noted at this point - the pilot training being conducted included actually flying an airplane in addition to the ground school courses. The flight portion of the program was done at the Grand Central Airport, in Glendale, as well as (Fox Field) Lancaster, CA. The year 1942 also witnessed the completion of a new shop building required for the overflow in technical training enrollees. This building was the T-1 building, which has just been renovated, and is now referred to as the ATC building.

While some basic mechanic training was being done, it wasn't until the semester of 1944 - 1915 which saw the Aircraft Service and Maintenance program fully established. The thrust of this training was for the students to achieve their A&E (airframe and engine) mechanics' certificate. Each certificate required two years of study. Not only were regular mechanic classes required, but there some academic requirements as well.

In 1945, another instructor was added to the department - Gene Cahoon. In 1954, the T-2 building was constructed, to serve as the facility for the specific training of Aircraft Mechanics. By 1975, the classes had grown to such size, that a contract was awarded to the Steed Brothers Construction Co., to begin construction of what is now the Aviation / Arts building.

hrough the decades that the Aviation Department has been in existence at GCC, it's reputation for turning out thoroughly trained and qualified people, has become well known in the local and national aviation community. Currently at the Burbank, Van Nuys, and Los Angeles International airport, our students are sought after by many aircraft maintenance facilities.