By paNOW Staff

SIIT opens new aviation learning centre

Oct 30, 2010 | 11:39 AM

A new program to train aircraft maintenance engineers is officially open at Saskatoon's Diefenbaker International Airport.
On Friday, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) officially opened the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre.
SIIT is teaming up with the federal and provincial governments, and aerospace giants Boeing, Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin.
“We initially started with these folks seven, eight years ago,” said SIIT president Randell Morris. “To build this beautiful building and to see the students all enrolled and taking part in the classes, it's just very heartwarming.”
The two-year diploma program is only offered by SIIT and is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.
LeAnn Ridgeway with Rockwell Collins outlined why her company got involved.
“It actually is a great opportunity to marry up and partner industry with education, and then also with the great economic development that's going on here,” Ridgeway explained.
The program accepts 15 students per year. They'll be trained to fix the airplanes we fly on every day in the 25,000 square foot facility. The building will also house the commercial pilot program from SIAST.
Treaty commissioner Bill McKnight believes the deal keeps with the spirit of the treaties.
“Nobody envisaged an aerocraft engineering school (when the treaties were signed), but this is how we keep saying that treaties are alive,” McKnight said. “And treaties continue to contribute to the benefit of all of us in this province because we are all treaty people.”