With the aviation industry facing a looming shortage of technicians due to retirement, HQ Aero Management (Booth C4155) has been helping steer new entrants into the field for the past five years. In 2012, it partnered with Workforce West Virginia and local aviation companies to establish an eight-week aircraft structures training course at a local community college.
Due to various state grants, the certificate program is free to students and provides them with entry-level training in fundamental aircraft structures fabrication and repair concepts, including assembly tools, blueprint reading, fastener pattern layouts, and solid rivet and fastener installation. Successful candidates must pass criminal background and drug tests, as well as a skills assessment to ensure they are mechanically inclined.
According to the company, all students who complete the program are guaranteed positions as aviation apprentices with one of HQ Aero’s local aviation partners. They are then given the opportunity to shadow and work closely with industry veterans in the structures career field.
Since its first class in 2012, all but eight of the 128 enrolled students have completed the course, with 105 moving into the aviation field upon graduation. The program has expanded to four classes of 12 students each a year, with the next group slated to begin later next month.
HQ Aero provides nationwide recruiting services to the aviation industry, employing between 200 and 300 contract aviation technicians at any given time. It became involved in the project to provide guidance in terms of the skills requested by its clients.
The issue of workforce shortages will be also addressed on Wednesday afternoon at Heli-Expo 2018, when HAI will present the results of a new industry labor study conducted with the University of North Dakota.