Aviation Students Excel at Competition

WATERTOWN, SD – Students from Lake Area Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AVM) program earned top places at the recent 2015 Midwest Aviation Invitational held in October in Ottumwa, Iowa. Brian Barry, a second-year student from Rapid City, SD, and Andy Ufkin, a second-year student from Porter, MN, were among the top-four student winners during the competition, hosted by Indian Hills Community College at its campus adjacent to the Ottumwa Regional Airport.  Brian Barry and Jordan Vogue, a second-year student from Watertown, shared a three-way tie with one other contestant for “Most Professional Image.”  Kaj Matsch, a second-year student from Chino, CA, was another strong presence on the Lake Area Technical College team.

Lake Area Technical College Aviation Maintenance Technology Department Supervisor Greg Klein said the intense competition offers a tremendous opportunity for students to demonstrate their aviation maintenance skills and knowledge. “Throughout their time at Lake Area Technical College, our students work diligently to become the best aviation mechanics possible,” he said. “Brian, Andy, Jordan, and Kaj are great representatives of all of our AVM students and I commend them on a job well done.  I’m very proud of them all.”

Competition events included Aircraft Weight and Balance, Safety Wiring, Electrical Troubleshooting, Magneto Timing, Fluid Lines and Fittings, Flight Control Rigging, Sheet Metal Repair, and Turbine Engine Component Exchange.