Boeing Donates 777 Engine to South’s AMT Program
It’s not every day that you have an opportunity to see a Boeing 777 engine up close and personal, but that’s exactly what happened at South Seattle College on Feb. 29, 2016.
Courtesy of Boeing, South Seattle College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program has added a Pratt & Whitney 777 engine to its fleet of 70 engines and 13 aircrafts used by students to prepare for aerospace careers.
To celebrate this historic donation, South held an open house event on Feb. 29 that allowed the campus community to get an up-close and personal view of this high-powered machine.
At 16,000 pounds, the engine’s weight is equivalent to four mid-size SUV’s, and measures 21 feet in length. The 777 engine is the largest and strongest in the program.
“As the only school in the state with a 777 engine, we can provide on-the-job training in our classroom,” Aviation Dean Kim Alexander explained. “We wouldn’t be able to prepare our students for the real world without such strong support from partners like Boeing.”
One of those students is Ravinder Brar, who said this opportunity is like “a dream come true.”
“Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to do something with airplanes,” Brar continued. “And now that I have finally achieved that, this is really cool.”
In his final quarter of the eight-quarter Aviation Maintenance Technician program, Brar said that his education at South has set him up for success as a professional.
“Every class at South, we spend time in the classroom with PowerPoints, but then we get in the shop and work on it,” he said. “We do it exactly the way they do it in the real world.”
From Boeing’s perspective, making a donation like this helps pave the way for its next generation of employees, like Brar.
“Boeing is proud to help inspire tomorrow’s aviation professionals through the donation of this engine,” said Rob Thayer, director of manufacturing and quality in the Propulsion Systems division at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We hope our support for educational programs and other initiatives encourages people to explore technical careers that are rewarding for them, and contribute to innovation that improves life for everyone.”
More information on South’s AMT program is available here, or by calling 206 934 6789. Spring Quarter begins on April 4.