FlightSafety International recently awarded its 4,000th Master Technician certificate recognizing the completion of a comprehensive multi-year maintenance training program. Joe Ping, manager of aircraft maintenance for Cummins’ Global Integrated Services-Aviation, achieved the milestone certificate for his technician training on the Gulfstream G280.

Developed in collaboration with aircraft, component, and system manufacturers, the Master Technician program entails in-depth instruction and real-world practical training. To achieve the recognition, participants must complete five advanced aircraft type- and path-specific maintenance courses. Path options include airframe, avionics, composites, engines, and management. FlightSafety estimates that the average technician takes four to five years to complete the program and typically earns a certificate in several paths.

The program began in the 1990s covering a few aircraft models but has expanded over the years to nearly every commonly used business aircraft model. Courses are available for engines and other components from suppliers such as Pratt & Whitney Canada and Honeywell, along with business aircraft manufactured by Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Embraer, Gulfstream, Leonardo, Piaggio, Sikorsky, and Textron.