In a graduation ceremony this morning in Red Oak, Texas, Bombardier honored the first batch of apprentices to complete a vocational training program it developed with Texas State Technical College (TSTC). Launched in 2019, the two-year Bombardier Aerospace Apprenticeship program (BAAP), which carries U.S. Department of Labor accreditation, offers students the opportunity to enter the aerospace sector with no specific prerequisites.
Using TSTC facilities, the airframer and college provide them with no-cost, expert instruction, including industry-tailored modules, the use of tools and equipment, and financial support. The coursework is a blend of practical and on-the-job training mixed with in-class instruction. Topics include health, safety, and quality best practices, aircraft drawing and specification comprehension, manufacturing standards, and regulatory compliance in aircraft assembly.
Today’s 10 graduates will now be offered full-time employment at Bombardier’s Red Oak facility as aircraft assemblers or aerostructures apprentices working on the Global 7500 wing, which is manufactured there. Currently, 80 students are in the training pipeline, and Bombardier and TSTC plan to recruit another 50 over the next two years.
“I am thrilled to celebrate the successful graduation of the men and women in the BAAP program, who will now transition forward in new careers at Bombardier, helping to ramp up the development of [the] Global 7500 program,” said Paul Sislian, the OEM’s executive v-p of operations and operational excellence. “The accomplishments of these talented individuals aptly underscore the importance of fueling the aerospace pipeline in our Red Oak facility, bringing world-class training opportunities and cementing Bombardier as a key pillar of the community.”