Future technicians can now take advantage of a combined FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic and associate degree program offered by St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Fla., and National Aviation Academy. Students can earn their mechanic certificate and Aviation Maintenance Management Technology Associate of Science degree in just 21 months, rather than taking a typical two-year A&P program and then attending college afterwards for the associate degree. The accelerated program was launched by St. Petersburg College’s Corporate Training Program and National Aviation Academy, which has A&P schools in Clearwater and Bedford, Mass. The new program works by incorporating St. Petersburg’s nine courses within National Aviation Academy’s nine terms. Students complete their St. Petersburg courses online and in classrooms at NAA’s Clearwater campus. The first combined program starts in March. “This program will be a springboard to supplying the aviation maintenance global marketplace with even better educated technicians,” said Michael Wisniewski, the academy’s president. For students, the course will mean getting to paying jobs sooner.