VAN NUYS, Calif. — Students at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s North Valley Occupational Center – Aviation (NVOC – Aviation) have a new tool to gain insight into the functioning of turbine engines, thanks to a donation of a Rolls-Royce Spey Engine – valued at $120,000 – by Pegasus Elite Aviation.
Pegasus Elite Aviation, an international full-service aviation company with sales operations based at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), made the donation to the NVOC – Aviation, also housed at VNY, as one way to further encourage the growth in the number of trained general airframe and power plant mechanics, company officials said.
“We’re grateful to have the opportunity to advance these students’ education,” said Pegasus Elite Aviation President Tim Prero. “It’s important for companies in our industry to explore all opportunities to support students pursuing careers in the aviation industry.”
Michael Phillips, airframe and power plant instructor at the NVOC – Aviation, said that due to budget constraints, donations currently provide the only way for the school to obtain equipment, such as the Rolls-Royce Spey Engine, to use in its curriculum. He said the engine will allow students to learn more about the characteristics and differences from older turbine engines the school currently owns.
“This means a lot to the students, and we’re very appreciative of Pegasus Elite Aviation’s generosity,” Phillips said. “Aviation companies have the choice of scrapping old engines, selling them for a greatly reduced cost or donating them to a school. It’s important they remember that schools like ours support the local community, and we are where these companies get the general airframe and power plant mechanics to work in their shops.”
For more information: PegJet.com