This specialized campus at the Ottumwa Regional Airport hosts a number of programs, including Aviation Pilot Training, Aviation Maintenance, Avionics Electronics Technician, Commercial Truck Driving, Diesel Technology and Welding Technology. There are no residence halls. Students live on Main Campus or commute—perfect for a campus built around transportation careers.
Walking Tour
North Campus used to be called the "Airport Campus" because it’s at the Ottumwa Regional
Airport. Today, more than Aviation calls North Campus home. Here, you also find Commercial
Truck Driving, Criminal Justice, Diesel Technology, and Welding Technology.
The Criminal Justice Training Center opened in the summer of 2023. Completing the
two-year training program prepares you to apply for entry-level jobs with law enforcement
departments and agencies.
Start your driving career at the North Campus. The Commercial Driving Program (CDL)
is located in the same building as aviation, welding, and diesel technology.
The Regional Entrepreneurship Center (REC) is for start-up businesses and innovative
ventures. It is a great place to find a business mentor, legal guides, marketing info,
or training programs.
Aviation and Avionics Studies
IHCC is one of only a handful of colleges in Iowa with formal aviation-related education
programs. We offer Aviation Pilot Training, Aviation Maintenance, and Avionics, all
at North Campus at Ottumwa Regional Airport.
The IHCC Aviation Professional Pilot degree prepares students for employment with
airlines as well as private and corporate operators. Our FAA Part 141 certified facility
will train you for that first airline job with hands-on training and real-world experiences.
Your first solo trip during Aviation Pilot Training is a major milestone and should
be celebrated! That first time can create some nerves, yet it is amazing to be in
the sky by yourself using everything you have learned.
You will get to train on actual aircraft for the Aviation Maintenance Technology program.
We were lucky to receive a Beechcraft T-1A “Jayhawk” airplane from the 39th Flying
Training Squadron. Air Force pilots used this plane to build jet aircraft time and
skills.
The Aviation Maintenance Program is a Federal Aviation Administration approved program
that allows students to work on all aircraft types. You will learn about airplane
repair, inspection, and modification. Aviation maintenance technicians (AMT) ensure
that aircraft comply with airworthiness, are safe, and function during flight.
When the Air Race Classic landed in Ottumwa, the IHCC Aviation Maintenance Tech students
volunteered to care for the planes. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—it was
the first time the race came to Ottumwa since the tradition began in 1929.
The Aviation Maintenance Tech class went to Atlanta to battle it out in the Aerospace
Maintenance Competition. The class was able to test their knowledge and skills against
their peers from other schools across the U.S.
Commercial Truck Driving Training
IHCC offers the CDL Training Program 10 times a year. You have the opportunity to
choose from the weekday course for six weeks or the weekend course for nine weekends.
What better way to start learning than a virtual driving simulator? You will learn
skills to land a job in six weeks and can help drive the economy one trip at a time.
During training, you will learn about vehicle inspection, driving and operating a
truck, and more, including backup procedures for commercial vehicles. Every day you
will get time for hands-on learning. Classroom time is used to learn basic skills,
how to read maps, and road regulations and etiquette.
IHCC wants its students to learn to be a safe, knowledgeable, and professionally capable
driver. Once the course is completed each student will receive a certificate to start
a job at a trucking company.
Welding and Diesel Technician Studies
The Welding Technician Program takes 12 months to complete and the Welding Technology
Program requires 18 months and both are accredited by the American Welding Society
(AWS). There is hands-on learning, but students also spend classroom time learning
the foundation of welding skills.
During the first four terms of the program, everyone learns welds in GMAW, GTAW, SMAW,
FCAW, and Oxy-Acetylene and will have the opportunity to certify in those processes.
If you sign up for the final three terms, you will advance your fabrication, machining,
and welding skills, and dive deeper into quality assurance.
Welders with IHCC Welding Technology degrees are in high demand. Work in fabrication
or maintenance welding. Companies like John Deere, Kinze Manufacturing, and Vermeer
recruit IHCC students for jobs and internships.
The Diesel Technology Program spans 21 months, during which you’ll acquire skills
in diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining agricultural equipment, trucks, and various
heavy construction machinery. Throughout the program, you’ll receive training on diverse
diesel engines and engage in classroom sessions covering different equipment types.
Given the number of trucks on the road, diesel technicians are essential for maintaining
their peak performance, one mile at a time.
Ottumwa, Iowa
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