Continued growth and learning are crucial to growing as a professional in any field, but especially in engineering. For an aspiring aviation professional starting their career or an experienced one looking to expand their knowledge base, there is no better way to accomplish the mission than through the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Airport Certified Employee (ACE) Program.
AAAE’s multiple self-study and guided ACE review courses include specific training and certifications for important roles in airport operations and management. Training program courses include airfield lighting maintenance, safety management systems, airfield operations, planning and environmental, airport finance, airport security and others. AAAE also offers in-person training review courses that prepare students to pass the program’s comprehensive examinations and receive the coveted ACE certification.
‘Invaluable’ training
David Williams, P.E., LEED AP®, AAE ACE, one of Hanson’s senior electrical engineers, based in the company’s Raleigh, North Carolina, office, is an example of someone who has benefitted from ACE’s training and certification (airfield lighting maintenance). David started his pursuit of design in the aviation industry by gaining valuable guidance through mentorship from his co-workers and self-study of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory circulars, engineering briefs and orders. When Raleigh-Durham International Airport operations invested in its airfield electrical staff in 2017 by hosting an AAAE ACE on-site, four-day training course, David had the opportunity to attend the ACE airfield lighting training locally and in-person at the beginning of his aviation industry journey. To this day, David applies knowledge gained from his ACE training and certification to his airfield electrical designs for Hanson’s clients.
Recognized industry leaders who thoroughly review the history and current practices of airfield lighting, referencing recent advisory circulars FAA AC 150/5340-30, FAA AC 150/5340-26 and others lead the AAAE ACE airfield lighting maintenance training.
“The training is invaluable,” David said, “because it provides a baseline for early designers and engineers in the aviation market and allows seasoned designers and engineers to understand the day-to-day challenges facing airport maintenance crews.”
Safety first
A significant aspect of the training is the appreciation of airfield lighting safety. Medium voltage constant current circuits that power airfield lighting are designed for resiliency and reliability — not necessarily safety. Airfield lighting systems will operate with one or multiple faults in the circuit when the circuit has a path through which to push the current — including through a human!
“I would highly recommend any designer or airport employee who is responsible for planning and maintaining airfield lighting systems to attend this training,” David said. “Employees recognized with the AAAE ACE designation in airfield lighting maintenance have a baseline understanding of airfield lighting, supporting systems and the importance of a well-maintained system for reliable and safe operations. This designation also guarantees the person you are hiring is not coming in cold off the street without any exposure to the airfield and airfield lighting. The training is just the beginning, but it lays a solid foundation to build and grow quality airfield electrical designers, engineers and electricians.”
No matter which career you choose, it’s worth considering an AAAE ACE program to fit your training needs or expand your horizon. Visit ACE Programs | Certification Programs (aaae.org) to learn more.
David Williams can be reached at dwilliams2@hanson-inc.com.