In June, with school out and summer vacation going strong, island resident Alex Gerwien and his friend Zackary Porchia took part in an intensive one-week externship program at Piper Aircraft.
Both boys are rising seniors at Master’s Academy, which is supported in part by island philanthropists and educates a growing number of 32963 students.
This Master’s Academy-Piper Aircraft collaboration was designed to give students “an immersive introduction to aviation, advanced manufacturing, engineering, quality, safety and workforce development,” according to Piper’s Manager of Training and Development Alfred Guzman.
“We wanted the students to experience how the different parts of an aircraft manufacturing organization work together – from initial design and fabrication through assembly, inspection, paint, avionics, completion and final delivery,” Guzman said.
A major goal of the program is to help the students understand that aviation careers extend well beyond pilots and aircraft mechanics.
“They were exposed to opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, electrical and avionics work, quality assurance, inspection, safety, paint, human resources, training and production support,” Guzman said. “They also learned how drawings, specifications, tooling, quality requirements, and employee training all contribute to producing a safe and reliable aircraft.”
The connection between Piper and Master’s Academy came about when Master’s Head of School Dr. Rick Brewer sought to expand the school’s vocational-technical program to increase career opportunities beyond the traditional pre-college track.
This was the second summer Master’s partnered with Piper as part of Brewer’s effort.
Last year, when Brewer contacted Piper seeking apprentice opportunities, “They told us that, while they don’t have apprentice programs, they do have an intensive, comprehensive, start-to-finish one-week externship.”
At that time, the program was only available to college students already interested in aviation, but when Brewer explained Master’s motivation to broaden its Vo-tech opportunities, Piper agreed to include the school.
“We are the only high school in Piper’s program,” Brewer said, adding that both students who took the course last year are “going into the world of aviation. One is about to solo, and the other is in Naval aviation.”
When Zach and Alex heard their fellow students talk about the Piper program, they liked the sound of it. After experiencing the event-packed week of education and training for themselves, they shared their excitement and gratitude during the certificate presentation at the end of the program.
“My favorite parts of the externship included avionics, the paint shop, the flight simulator, riveting, and visiting the flight line,” Gerwien said.
“Seeing how aircraft systems are tested and how every stage of production comes together gave me a new perspective on aviation. From the initial metal structures to the final finished aircraft, I realized just how much expertise, coordination and technology are involved. The entire experience was incredibly enriching and strengthened my interest in the aviation field.”
“This externship broadened my understanding of aviation far beyond the cockpit,” said Porchia. “I gained valuable knowledge in areas including avionics, engineering, final assembly, flight operations, and management.
“More importantly, I learned how critical communication, attention to detail, and teamwork are to building aircraft safely and successfully.
“Growing up around aviation, I always thought my future was limited to becoming a pilot,” added Porchia, whose father has a background in jet engine making and rocketry. “This experience showed me the incredible variety of careers available within the industry and opened my eyes to opportunities I had never previously considered.”
Piper Production Trainer Harry Brubaker guided the two boys through many of the delicate, hands-on challenges of the manufacturing process.
Under his steady hand, the students practiced basic drilling, riveting and bucking techniques while learning about tool safety, workmanship, accuracy, and the importance of following approved processes.
“This gave them an opportunity to experience the concentration and coordination required to produce aircraft-quality work rather than simply observing from a distance,” Brubaker said.
Porchia’s father, Richard Porchia, has had a career in aviation and aerospace as an inspector, then senior supervisor of jet engines for Pratt and Whitney and now as rocket engine quality control manager for the RL10 program at Rocketdyne.
“I found the Piper program to be more than what we expected,” he said. “My son got the full scope of aviation on the other side of flying, and he really enjoyed every aspect of the different jobs Piper does throughout the manufacturing process. I saw growth in my son after the program.”
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1937, Piper Aircraft set up a research and development center in Vero in 1957 and launched a manufacturing operation here, on a campus next to the Vero Beach Regional Airport, in 1959.
The fast-growing private company employs more than 1,500 workers and manufactures and sells more than 300 aircraft annually, generating close to $700 million in revenue, according to Piper and various business analysis websites. It has been owned since 2009 by the Sultan of Brunei.
Photos provided
