Aviation Maintenance Technician Training

A 12-MONTH PROGRAM AT NO COST

Original article found here: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/october/11/technician-opportunities-for-texans

The U.S. Department of Labor's North Texas Job Corps Center and the US Aviation Academy are partnering to offer tuition-free training for young Texas residents interested in aviation maintenance.

Texas residents ages 18 to 24 are eligible for tuition-free aviation maintenance training through the US Aviation Academy and North Texas Job Corps Center. Photo courtesy of US Aviation Academy.

Earlier this year, Boeing forecast a need for 610,000 technicians by 2041. North Texas Job Corps Center and US Aviation Academy were approached by AAR Corp—a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators—and developed the North Texas Job Corps Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Advanced Training Program.

With this program the three companies aim to contribute trained technicians to help meet the projected need, and inspire the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals.”US Aviation Academy is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps and build on their 58-year history of helping young men and women obtain specialized skills training,” said Mike Sykes, CEO of US Aviation Academy. “This partnership will provide the graduates an excellent career opportunity as an FAA-licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic while helping address the critical labor shortage in the aviation industry.”

Income-eligible Texans ages 18 to 24 who have completed a foundational Job Corps training program (with preference for students who did programs in the construction or automotive industry) can receive free tuition for the North Texas Job Corps Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Advanced Training Program.

The fast-track aviation maintenance training program will graduate students in 12 months instead of the typical 24-month timeline and will welcome its first class of students in November. Graduates will be qualified and eligible to earn an A&P mechanic certification without requiring additional training or apprenticeship.

Ryan Goertzen, vice president of maintenance workforce development at AAR, touts the accomplishment of the program. “Over the last year, AAR, Job Corps and US Aviation Academy have remained laser-focused on creating this transformational opportunity for students in North Texas,” said Goertzen. “This initiative builds on AAR's very successful EAGLE Career Pathway Program and enables students from across the 121 Job Corps centers to secure careers in aviation maintenance with AAR.”