North Carolina is the nation’s second fastest-growing aerospace manufacturing sector with strong aerospace maintenance and military aviation enterprises, 14 commercial airline operators, and 26 air freight companies. In North Carolina, American Airlines currently employs 1,300 Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) and 1,280 pilots. However, in the next decade, forecasts indicate a shortage in pilots and aircraft mechanics.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has launched a new program to meet the growing demand for skilled talent.
Beginning in Fall 2023, E.E. Waddell High School’s Aviation and Aerospace program will launch an aviation magnet. The program will expose students to the world of aviation and allow them to choose between 3 key areas of study – aviation (flying), avionics (fixing) and aerospace (building). Students will also have the option to study graphic and digital design, marketing – CRM (customer relationship management) and software development.
The program aims to shore up critical gaps in the aerospace industry talent pipeline. Between now and 2032, forecasts indicate a 17% shortage in pilots and 24% shortage in aircraft mechanics. Boeing’s 2022 Pilot and Technician Outlook indicates a global gap of up to 50,000 pilots by 2025. Approximately 612,000 commercial pilots will be needed from 2021-2040. The Aviation Technical Education Council’s (ATEC) 2021 Pipeline Report demonstrates that the aviation industry will need to produce an additional 2,700 mechanics annually over its 2019 output to meet the 20-year demand.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for aviation maintenance technicians is $69,000 annually. American Airlines captains can earn upwards of $500,000 in their careers.
Competition for qualified pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians will remain strong over the next few years. Students who begin their training now will be well-positioned to seize employment opportunities by the time they graduate. CMS has space availability for 9th and 10th students for the 2023-2024 school year. Please visit https://cmschoice.org/aviation to learn more.
