The sky’s the limit for young people enrolled in a new apprenticeship program announced at Craig Industrial Complex Airport recently.
Aircraft maintenance company City Jet/Turbine Worx is giving apprentices true hands-on experience on how to work on aircraft.
“At most of your schools, if they even get to touch a real airplane, it’s a little general aviation [aircraft] like a little Cessna or something like that,” City Jet/Turbine Worx CEO Ron Mays said. “Here, they learn how to work on jets, like this Boeing 757. They participated in an engine swap and a landing gear change.”
Mays said the program lasts about 18 months. And after the apprentices complete the program and get their certificate, they could go to work for an aviation company making $39 an hour.
“We’re not only in the business of fixing aircraft. We change lives,” Mays said. “The opportunity to do something different to make a difference came along, and that’s what we decided to do.” Mays said they partnered with Gov. Kay Ivey’s Alabama Works initiative, AIDT and Wallace Community College to start an apprenticeship program.
City Jet/Turbine Worx came to Craig a year ago. Since then, they have expanded to a second hangar. Mays said over the next few months there will be a noticeable increase in the number of aircraft at Craig coming to City Jet / Turbine Worx from all over the world.
“We’re putting Selma back on the global map for aviation,” Mays said. “Next year, Maxwell [Airforce Base in Montgomery] will be bringing a few hundred helicopters here. These apprentices will be on the front line to maintain these aircraft.”
Mayor James Perkins Jr., who opened the March 29 ceremony in Hangar 251 at Craig Field, said the success of City Jet/Turbine Worx “speaks volumes not just locally but regionally and nationally. It says we have resources here and the capacity to do business at this level.”
Motivated individuals who want a career in aviation can be a part of this program, and they need 10 to 15 in the next few weeks to keep up with the workload. Mays said call AIDT in Montgomery 334-280-4400 and speak with Stensen Kennedy.
He also said there is room for people who already have their certificate and are already experienced. The phone number is 812-575-7766. There is information about the company at www.turbine-worx.com.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.