Gulfstream Aero Welcomes Latest Cohort of Bizav Apprentices

In an expansion of its apprenticeship program, Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace last week welcomed more than 60 high school graduates from 20 schools and eight counties across Georgia and South Carolina as full-time apprentices. The students are now at the company’s Savannah Technical Training Center (TTC), a dedicated space for on-the-job training and workforce development that opened in 2015.

After finishing initial training at the TTC, the apprentices will advance into specialized roles across the company. The TTC has 23 training spaces, providing an immersive learning environment through instructor-led classrooms, labs, and computer-based and hands-on training.

“Gulfstream’s continued investment in apprenticeship programs is essential to building a strong, agile workforce for the future,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “We are also committed to investing in the communities where our employees live and work and are pleased to welcome another group of promising graduates to Gulfstream as they begin their long-term, fulfilling careers in aviation.”

The business jet maker has nine apprenticeship categories, ranging from aircraft manufacturing and technician roles to avionics installation. According to Gulfstream, the programs have “rapidly expanded to create additional career pathways for highly skilled, hard-to-fill roles, with three new programs recently launched across cabinetry, aircraft maintenance, and nondestructive testing. The apprentice programs have been extremely successful, with approximately 90% of promoted apprentices currently employed, while the number of active apprentices has grown from more than 120 to over 550 in the past year.”

Gulfstream said it maintains strong partnerships with local K-12 schools, technical colleges, and state universities to ensure a robust pipeline of future talent. It also recently announced a $5 million investment in Georgia education this year to help develop the talent, skills, and innovation needed to shape the future of business aviation.