Story ID: 
Feds Approve AEA's Avionics Tech Apprenticeship 
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: The program is "another tool" for AEA member repair shops to train their own avionics technicians.
Word Count: 222
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has developed an avionics technician apprenticeship program with the help of the Urban Institute that has received U.S. Department of Labor approval, the Lee’s Summit, Missouri-based association announced on Monday. Offering a competency-based occupational framework, the apprenticeship program meets industry standards, according to AEA.

Working with the Urban Institute, the program was created by a team comprising AEA member repair stations and manufacturer representatives. It follows an announcement from the FAA last January that formally recognized Aircraft Electronics Technician certification from ASTM’s National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies as equivalent to formal training when showing eligibility for the issuance of a repairman certificate, according to AEA.

“The avionics technician apprenticeship program offers a new career pathway where individuals can simultaneously earn a competitive wage, gain knowledge with structured learning and on-the-job training, and achieve industry-recognized credentials,” said AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. “Now that the apprenticeship program has been approved by the Department of Labor, AEA member repair stations have another tool to grow their own and successfully recruit, train, and retain high-quality technicians. It is another critical step in our industry's ongoing workforce development efforts.”

AEA will host a one-hour session on the program on March 26 during its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.