Challenge 

Big Bend Community College (BBCC) in Moses Lake has a long history of offering aviation-related training. The Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program is a rigorous two-year program that prepares students for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft airframe and engine maintenance certification.

Until recently, the program trained students about rotorcraft design and maintenance on a decades-old Bell 47 helicopter. According to AMT Instructor Cade Levine, while that helicopter met FAA requirements, it was becoming clear to the program’s instructors that it was time to update their equipment.

“Our program is designed to be able to take an individual with no maintenance background or experience and provide them with the experience and knowledge requirements set forth by the FAA,” Levine said. “Our mindset is that whenever possible, we should give students access to training aids and equipment that closely mirror the equipment and aircraft they will encounter once they graduate.”  

Solution

As the search for a new helicopter began, former AMT program instructors recommended the DES Federal Surplus program. The college had received federal surplus goods through DES in the past, so Levine reached out to DES Federal Surplus Program Specialist Scott Fifield.

“In order for the program to qualify for an aircraft, the college must submit a letter of intent to DES, and the DES Federal Surplus program must submit that letter to the federal General Services Administration (GSA),” Fifield explained. “Additionally, the program is required to have a pilot on staff.”

In February 2025, Fifield was informed by the GSA that a helicopter had been allocated, and the transfer was approved. He contacted Levine to share the news and start making arrangements to transfer the aircraft from Florida to Moses Lake.

One of the benefits of the surplus program is cost savings. Because this was a government surplus transfer, BBCC paid $60,000 to cover service and handling fees... much less than the helicopter’s original $1.2 million price tag.

Outcome

As of the start of the 2025 academic year, students in the program are training on a more modern helicopter that prepares them for careers in aviation maintenance.

“This aircraft has the modern technology that we can demonstrate on or show to students in-person,” Levine said. “Another one of the great aspects of this aircraft is that the maintenance manuals for this helicopter are a great step forward towards how modern aircraft technical literature is structured, and it allows our students to become better familiarized with some more modern maintenance manuals. Overall, this helicopter made a great leap in our efforts to get our students better familiarized with helicopter technology and maintenance.”

Learn more

• How to buy surplus equipment
• How to dispose of surplus equipment