Meet Antonio Garcia of America’s Best AMT Crash Courses in Goodyear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Garcia.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It started with my older brother pushing me to do something in Aviation since he was unable too. I found a school in Los Angeles that had a two-year program to become an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, so I signed right up after high school. Two years later, I completed it and got my Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic’s license or A&P.

My first job was for Robinson Helicopters. From there, I found out that Arizona was the place to be for aviation, so I packed up my family and we moved. I found different jobs, here and there, in aviation throughout the years. I knew I wanted to do so much more with my license. I actually applied for the job at a 147 A&P school that was doing a CTE program for high school students. I got the job and worked for them for a couple of years. There we started an adult night class for military and civilians.

By being there, I knew I wanted to start my own type of school or tutoring crash course for the military and civilians to help them study before taking their oral and practical with a DME or Designated Mechanic’s Examiner. Nothing was offered at the school, so I took my chance, left there and started my own business. That is how America’s Best AMT Crash Courses came to be and where I am now.

Has it been a smooth road?
Oh no, it has NOT been a smooth road at all. My wife actually thought I was crazy because I was leaving a stable job, while she was pregnant with #6, to start my own business. She knew there were so many risks. Heck, I knew the risks and even though I was a bit crazy, but once I put my mind to something, I just do it!

Once I left, I had to find a place to start. I really had no clue what I was doing in the very beginning, but I knew it was going to take off once I got it up and running. I found LuxAir and set up a meeting to meet with the owner. He saw something in me and my determination to start my business and gave me a spot in his company at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.

From there it flourished. I had run the CATs Testing Center at the school, so I called and got my own testing site established so when my course started, students or applicants could come to me for their testing in General, Airframe, and Powerplant, but I did not stop there.

I wasn’t just sticking with FAA testing, I went more into it and got approved for Comira testing for other applicants from different schools, to take their tests at my facility like NCCAP National Exams, Pilot’s exams, lead inspector’s exams, etc.

To further my company, and I guess challenge myself, I went to talk to the VA to acquire funding for our military to take my course. This way, they didn’t have to pay out of pocket. I had to jump through hoops for the WIOA and COOL programs of all military branches to give me a chance.

I also had to find a DME (Designated Mechanic Examiner) to take on my students for their oral and practical’s exams. I also had to find an FAA personnel to come do sign-offs for my military students. I had no clue what I was doing, but I called, emailed, and visited places until someone took a chance on me.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I created America’s Best AMT Courses (ABACC) with the focal emphasis of helping students who want to get their A&P because they are civilian-transitioning from the military, international students looking to further their career in their country and overall helping any potential students jump-start their career in Aviation. America’s Best AMT has solidified itself with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as being one of the Top Tear prep schools in Arizona in assisting students with certification and job placement.

ABACC does not take or give any false notations on standards. It is our mission to continue to strive to help military personnel and civilians with their certification. We are committed to a hassle-free but assertive learning environment. Integrity is the key foundation to our success at Americas’ Best!

However, Military and transitional civilian services that are provided at America’s best AMT Courses and Aircraft Maintenance is a dream come true for me as the owner. I have expanded from a course to creating a maintenance company with ABACC and having interns after they have finished their course with us and actually putting their license to work interning with our company.

When we take these trained airmen who have been working on F-16, A10’s and F-35’s and show them the civilian side and give the troops a different perspective on the skills learned in the military and utilizing it on a diverse spectrum helps bring stability to the aviation industry and it feels great that positive life changes are happening.

The one main thing that sets me apart from others is that I am a family business, I have my wife and children work there as well. My wife runs the test center as the Testing Site Supervisor, we bring our kids to work who help us make copies, clean up, and just be with us three or four times a week. I am a big family man, and this business was built for them.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, because it is located close to Luke Air Force base, and the center of important places that is easy to get too. Especially in Aviation, this is the place to be.

A lot of people travel in from Tucson, Yuma, even out of state like Nevada and New Mexico to come here to Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, or Arizona in general.

Pricing:

• Individual Pricing: airframe and powerplant course fee-$950.00, written test fee for each section* (amg, ama, amp) -$150.00, oral and practical fee*(dme)-$350.00
• combined Fees: total fee for general, airframe only-$1,950.00, total fee for general, powerplant only-$1,950.00, total general, airframe, powerplant-$2,450.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 1300 South Litchfield Rd. Bldg. 150, Suite A-1020
  Goodyear, Arizona 85338
• Website: www.americasbestcrashcourses.com
• Phone: 602-284-6994
• Email: amt@americasbestcc.info
• Instagram: americasamt
• Facebook: America’s Best AMT @americasbestAMT and Americas Best AMT Course @amtcourses

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