Congratulations to Elliott Wassillie of Nunapitchuk is now an FAA Certified Airframe Technician. On December 21st, 2022 he earned his certification. Wassillie attended Yuut Elitnaurviat’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician School in Bethel.
“No matter the challenge, Elliot was really up to it,” said Instructor John Wallace. “He commuted from Nunapitchuk for class, but while he was in Bethel, still participated in his subsistence lifestyle, fishing or wooding or hunting… I rearranged the class schedule so the class started early and ended early partly because Elliot used the extra time to do this for his family. I am always so impressed with him. I like to say about Elliot, he doesn’t get bored, he gets busy!”
To become a mechanic, a person needs to either go to a school, which Wassillie and the other students did, or use experience to be eligible to take the tests, said Wallace. There are three sections, General Knowledge, Airframe, and Powerplant. A person needs to pass General and either the Airframe or Powerplant or both. The General Test is 60 questions, the Airframe and Powerplant are 100 questions each. Then upon passing, the person is tested with an Oral exam as well as a Practical exam where the student is given tasks to perform in front of the examiner.
“Elliot never gave up and though he is still waiting for Powerplant (Engines), he is now a FAA Certified Airframe Technician,” Wallace said. “His Examiner, Clif Stockton was very impressed. He told me he wished all mechanics that went to him for the final Oral and Practical Exam were as prepared.”
“Elliot did an EXCELLENT job,” Wallace said. “I’m so very proud of him.”
Thank you to the Association of Village Council Presidents which provided funding, as well as Yuut Elitnaurviat which operated the school and made it possible for Wassillie to travel to Anchorage and take the exams, and to the City of Nunapitchuk, the Native Village of Nunapitchuk, and to Elliott Wassillie’s wife Deanna and family for their support.
