AAR, a leading provider of aviation services to commercial airlines and governments worldwide, and WSU Tech have announced their new aviation maintenance education and training partnership to further enhance instruction, as well as student job experiences and career prospects at AAR upon graduation.
AAR’s EAGLE Career Pathway program will expand the curriculum of WSU Tech’s aviation maintenance technology program to include job shadowing and mentoring, as well as academic support and monitoring. WSU Tech students who pursue the FAA-certified aircraft mechanic’s certificate are eligible for up to US$15,000 in tuition reimbursements from AAR.
AAR’s partnership with WSU Tech is one of many ways the company is connecting students with education and real-world job experience to fill the gaps in aviation for middle skills that do not require a bachelor’s degree. There is demand for 189,000 new mechanics in North America through 2037, according to a Boeing study, and aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) are already in short supply.
AAR is introducing the EAGLE Career Pathway at schools near its five U.S. aircraft repair stations. EAGLE demonstrates how students can earn portable, stackable skills leading to multiple career paths at AAR. The stackable skills will enable interested students to pursue the coveted position of an FAA-certified airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic.