Aviation Program

Read about Tyler Kight, a 2016 graduate of College of The Albemarle’s (COA) aviation program.

While attending the School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, Tyler Kight had visions of building and designing movie sets. But after earning his Associate in Applied Science in Aviation Systems Technology from College of The Albemarle (COA) in August 2014, Kight is now working to keep Coast Guard airplanes in the air.

Kight enrolled at COA in 2012, straight out of high school. “For the first year, I went without knowing what I wanted to do,” Kight said. Then COA opened its fourth campus, COA – Currituck. “My dad is the one that told me it was opening up and suggested I go try that,” Kight said. Now, Kight is working with his father at DRS Technologies, Inc., which contracts with the Coast Guard. Kight, an entry-level mechanic, performs heavy maintenance on the Coast Guard’s venerable C-130 aircraft, inspecting planes and replacing parts. Kight’s experience at COA, including the industrial-like setting at the RATTC, eased his transition from school to work.

“The classes give you a nice supporting background so you’re not lost when you get in there and start working,” Kight said. “The classes were very educational and fun. Being in the shop — seeing progress being done — was fun for me. It was something completely new. When I went, I didn’t know how airplanes worked. Sitting in a classroom and learning how things work, you can see how they correlate with each other.”

Kight earned his Airframe Certification in May 2015 and is working toward his Powerplant Certification. “The certification opens up more job opportunities,” Kight said. And learning how to repair aircraft has spurred a new interest for Kight. He wants to learn how to fly and earn his pilot’s license. He has about eight hours in the air already.

“I enjoy every minute of it,” he said.