Posted on 03/09/2025 9:58:05 AM PDT by Libloather
With airline safety being top-of-mind after several deadly or near-death incidents on America’s tarmacs and in its skies, maintenance experts and lawmakers alike are calling for more support for specialized training in jet maintenance.
President Donald Trump has also called for reforming the education system and increasing overall government efficiency, which experts Fox News Digital spoke with said falls in line with their goals as well. Delays and gate changes at airports are also often attributed to urgent maintenance of aircraft.
In the last congressional session, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., unsuccessfully introduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act to expand the "529" qualified-tuition program to include expenses for aviation maintenance and pilot training.
Scott’s hometown of Charleston is notably a hub for the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, and the Senator said that pilot and aviation maintenance jobs are in high demand and provide well-paying careers.
"Unfortunately, the extensive and expensive training they require has undermined Americans’ ability to tap into this vital industry," Scott said, adding that he plans to reintroduce his bill in Congress soon.
"By giving parents flexibility with the hard-earned money they invest into 529 plans, this commonsense legislation provides a pathway to turn today’s students into tomorrow’s pilots. Affording our aviation sector the workforce necessary to sustain the tremendous growth South Carolina has enjoyed will ensure tourists continue to flock to our great state and will provide South Carolinians with reliable and efficient travel."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What percent of hires in maintenance in the last five years were DEI?
When you punish talent you get less of it.
Training won't help when the problem is pay and compensation.
There's a reason the auto tech training schools are always advertising: there's an inordinate number of former auto mechanics out there. In some areas of the country the pay isn't enough for the high costs of living.
I was in aviation maintenance one way or another for 37 years.
That career path allowed me to retire before 60 years old.
1) Get a skilled trade education: good.
2) Get a STEM college degree: good.
3) Get any other college degree: mostly a waste of time and money.
I advise young folks just out of high school to pick either option #1 or #2.
But if they are determined to pick option #3, take a year off first and work in fast food. Then your mind will be right. Go back and pick either option #1 or #2.
“expand the “529” qualified-tuition program to include expenses for aviation maintenance and pilot training”
If we are going to expand what 529s cover it should be for all work/career training, not just for industries that a senator favors.
Back in the somewhat old days, the USAF was the training ground for airplane mechanics, as well as electronics (cf. my Dad) and piloting.
Fascinating video—thanks.
Some shops only pay minimum wage when the tech isn’t actively working on a car.
Good post..and advice...
My youngest wanted to be an A&P technician until reality hit. Long hours on the swing shift out on the tarmac for low pay in crappy conditions. He’s an aerospace digital manufacturing tech (high tech machinist). He started as a paid intern in college, was making nearly six figures plus after graduation abd has never looked back.
Being an A&P should be a great job, but the way the airlines structure it, it sucks to break into. Things need to change.
That inordinate number of former auto mechanics are often not very good mechanics, which is why they can’t make a living turning a wrench.
That's an slanderous assumption.
Getting screwed with flat rate compensation and an increasing workload due to staffing shortages are legitimate reasons.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/mechanic-shortage-persists-workers-age-out-profession
Well, since I’m married to a mechanic and keep the books for our shop, I am not making any assumptions.
Good mechanics have no trouble making bank. The ones that have no hustle just aren’t going to cut it in independent shops and end up at dealerships or at Walmart or QuickLube.
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