HAGERSTOWN, MD – Governor O’Malley arrived at Hagerstown Regional Airport aboard a Cape Air regional flight from BWI-Marshall Airport to announce the opening of the Aviation Maintenance Technology School. The school, operated and administered by the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, trains students to become entry level aircraft technicians. Graduates of the AMT program are eligible to sit for the FAA’s Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification examinations. The program for aviation mechanics will develop a skilled workforce to fill high-paying aviation maintenance positions and allow Hagerstown Regional Airport to expand services.
“In the new economy, the states and regions that win will be those states and regions that make the difficult choices to invest in their human capital. I am pleased to join the people of Hagerstown to open the doors of the Aviation Maintenance Technology School and the doors to a brighter future for all of Western Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley. “Maryland is well-positioned to recover more quickly than other states because of our talented and skilled workforce. We must build on that strength and continue our work to prepare all Marylanders for the new economy.”
The school is a collaboration of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) Aerospace Industry Initiative, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Hagerstown Regional Airport, the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and the local business community. Twenty-five students are already enrolled in the school’s first session and three more sessions will be offered before the end of the year, providing 100 local residents with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to compete for aviation maintenance jobs in western Maryland. More than 95 percent of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics graduates pass the FAA’s A&P examinations of the first attempt.
“Governor O’Malley is a proven leader when it comes to workforce creation. While governors in other states have proposed drastic cuts to important training initiatives, Maryland has protected investments in skills development and continuing education,” Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez said. “The Aviation Maintenance Technology School will provide Western Maryland workers with the skills to compete in an innovative economy. I’m proud that the Maryland Department of Labor and the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board have had the opportunity to partner with the Western Maryland community to make this project a reality.”
U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin successfully secured $273,000 for the ARC in federal funding to support the creation of the Aviation Maintenance Technology School. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics has also invested $427,000.
“The launch of the Aviation Maintenance Technology School means jobs, jobs, jobs in Western Maryland – jobs that are in demand today, and jobs that will now be filled by local workers. The school will help train the workforce Hagerstown Regional Airport needs to stay competitive,” said Senator Mikulski. “The Hagerstown Regional Airport is critical to keeping Western Maryland’s economy moving. I will continue to fight to keep Marylanders on the go and for a continued federal investment in our communities.”
“Hagerstown Regional Airport is an important economic hub, and federal investments like this help keep Maryland’s workforce competitive even during tough economic times,” said Senator Cardin. “I am proud that we are able to deliver resources that will help ensure Western Maryland continues to be a magnet for quality businesses thanks to a growing pool of local, high-tech workers and state-of-the-art facilities.”
As many as half of the jobs created in the new economy will require more training than a high school diploma but less than a four year degree. However, less than 40 percent of Marylanders have the “middle skills” training necessary to fill many of these jobs. Last year, Governor O’Malley launched the Skills2Compete Maryland initiative to expand skills training and continuing education to fill middle-skill jobs. The Initiative is led by Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez and is administered by the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board – a division within the state’s Labor Department. As part of the Skills2Compete initiative, Governor O’Malley set an ambitious goal to expand participation in skills training by 20 percent by 2012.
lmao! most anyone in the aviation industry will tell you the jobs just aren't there anymore. Having over 30 years in the industry I can assure you of that. Even little ole usair express in salisbury is using unlicensed mechs to do the work for less money and then have a licensed mech come behind them and sign for the work. Damn shame conisdering it cost more (mechanic labor charges) to have your car worked on than an airplane. and you ain't pulling an airplane over to the side of the road when it breaks down!
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