On January 5, just moments after takeoff, a cabin door panel blew off in midair during an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Ontario. After investigation it was determined it was mostly likely due to manufacture or installation flaws.
Accidents like these are supposed to be prevented by a thorough process called non-destructive testing.
LBCC is home to Oregon’s only two-year NDT program. Scott Ballard was hired in the summer of 2016 to help launch the program. He works with instructors Zachary Milligan and Emily Whittier who have 35 years experience between the two of them. Together they guide students to their Level 1 certificates in NDT.
Non-destructive testing is a crucial part of today's quality inspection process used on many products around the world. NDT is used to inspect and evaluate materials, components, or assemblies without destroying their serviceability. This includes testing on aerospace products, nuclear components, and products made with exotic metals such as titanium, zirconium and tungsten. NDT ensures the safety of a wide array of products from airplanes to children's toys.
The demand for workers in the field is high and LBCC has been producing efficiently educated and trained workers in their NDT program since 2016.
Along with the schooling, through the Cooperative Work Experience program, students can move up to Level 2 or Level 3 technician. The program works closely with the metal and component manufacturers in Albany. ATI, Pacific Cast Technologies, Selmet, and Ti Squared Technologies are all companies where students get on the job experience through CWE.
According to Scott Ballard, the job market for program graduates is very strong with 100% employment after completion of the program.
With the experience and schooling gained from the program, graduates often earn full-time employment from those local companies or those similar to them around the world. Graduates of the LBCC program are also often interviewed by the Navy shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
Former student Mason Wakefield completed the program in the spring of 2023. He switched from engineering after taking the intro NDT course and got on at ATI through CWE. He now works full-time at ATI in Albany “The program gives you the classroom knowledge and hands-on experience that gives you a head start on the job. I would highly recommend at least trying NDT 100 if you're interested. It can lead to a great career and it's a lot of fun.”
The NDT associate of applied science degree is earned with 91 credits and is broken up over 6 terms with around 15 credits per term. This includes classes and training in ultrasonic phase array 3D imaging, radiography, penetrating dyes, magnetic particle inspection, and visual inspection to find surface and subsurface flaws.
Before 2020, the program was full and had to turn students away, but the numbers decreased drastically after the COVID pandemic started. Now numbers are just about to what they were before and the program is thriving.
“Our goal is to fill the program and I believe next year's incoming class will be at maximum capacity!” Ballard said.
Freshman A.J. Talsma said he heard about the opportunity in high school from a friend who planned on doing the same thing. He is interested in the career opportunities the program has to offer and has enjoyed it so far.
“The instructors are great,” Talsma said. “They provide assistance wherever you need it. They have also brought in guest speakers who have provided great insight into what the industry is like.”
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