LINN — State Tech added a 1979 Cessna Citation business jet to its aviation maintenance program, giving students a rare opportunity to work on turbine-powered aircraft as part of their hands-on training.

Dean of Academic Affairs and Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness Jeremy Goss said the addition represents a significant step forward in exposing students to the type of equipment they are likely to encounter in the workforce.

“A lot of the aircraft we have are piston-driven, which you see a lot of in aviation,” Goss said. “But this being a light business jet, it’s got two Pratt & Whitney turbine engines on it. So, it gives students a different look at something a little more high-performance that they could see if they go into the business aviation career path.”

Unlike simulators or partial training systems, the Citation is a complete, airworthy aircraft that was flown to campus before being placed into service as a training platform.

“That’s what we really wanted for our students,” Goss said. “When it comes in, they can see something they can put their hands on and work on, and something that they could potentially see when they go to work.”

Although the college does not intend to keep the aircraft flight-ready due to maintenance costs, it arrived fully operational and remains representative of real-world systems used in modern aviation.

“It’s still an airworthy aircraft,” Goss said. “We’re not going to spend all the money it costs to keep it airworthy because we’re not going to fly it again, but when it came in, everything was up to date—inspections, engines, everything was serviceable.”

The Citation was acquired through the college’s equipment enhancement grant process, which involves identifying training needs, evaluating available aircraft, and selecting the best fit through a competitive process.

“We determine what the training needs are, what would be most beneficial to our students, and then look to see which airplanes qualify,” Goss said. “Then we go through that whole vetting process … and go with the one that hits all the marks and is the most economical.”

The search process can take several months due to limited availability in the used aircraft market. “Aircraft go on and off the market all the time,” Goss said. “Sometimes you find one you think looks good, and by the time you decide, it’s already sold, so you have to keep looking.”

Once selected, the aircraft was flown to Missouri from Colorado, where it had been located between Boulder and Denver.

State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong flew out and returned as a passenger to the college. A private pilot was hired for the trip, and returned to Colorado after Goss drove him to the Columbia Regional Airport.

Goss noted the aircraft arrived fully operational before being transitioned into its instructional role.

The aircraft sits inside the aviation hangar, compact but unmistakably different from the piston-driven trainers nearby, its twin turbine engines marking the step into business-class aviation.

The Citation introduces students to turbine engines and advanced avionics systems not found in smaller training aircraft, while still maintaining overlap with commonly used components.

“A lot of the same components and stuff that are on there, they’re seeing in very modern aircraft too,” Goss said. “There’s a lot of these throughout the last 30 or 40 years that they will still see in aviation.”

Students in the program can work on the aircraft from nose to tail, gaining experience with complete systems rather than isolated parts.

“They can do full aircraft servicing of all the systems, fluids, and stuff like that,” Goss said. “Instead of simulating on just some components, they can see how the aircraft goes together and powers up.”

State Tech’s aviation maintenance program is FAA Part 147-certified, allowing students to earn industry-standard Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenses over two years.

“So basically, they have to take a general exam or written exam, then they have to take a power plant,” said Goss, noting that each cohort includes a maximum of 50 students. “Then the second year they come back, we focus a lot on the airframe … and then they get their airframe license, and then you’re basically kind of what’s considered a fully-qualified aviation maintenance technician.”

Goss emphasized that completing both years of the program is critical for long-term employability, adding that retention is nearly 100% from the first to second year of study.

“You really want to get both of them,” he said. “You’re more employable, and not restricted to certain systems on the aircraft.”

Demand for graduates remains exceptionally strong, with employers actively recruiting students before they complete the program.

“We have employers coming here every single year, every spring, telling me how many aviation mechanics they need to hire,” said Goss. “And it’s way more than we even have the capacity to teach. The students really have their pick of where they want to work when they leave here.”

State Tech’s job placement rate is extremely high, and the aviation program is no exception.

The addition of the Citation also enhances the college’s ability to showcase its aviation program to prospective students.

“It’s a great thing to show when students are coming on tour,” said Marketing Director Brandon McElwain. “They can see that we’ve got the ability to provide this kind of education.”

With the addition of the Citation, students now gain exposure to both piston-driven and turbine-powered aircraft, broadening their preparation for careers ranging from small repair operations to major airlines.

For Goss, the value of the aircraft comes down to realism.

“This gives them something real—something they’ll actually see when they go to work,” he said.