Wayne Community College will be partnering with Delta Air Lines to train Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.
The college’s Aviation Systems Technology program is one of 42 Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) schools across the United States selected by Delta to be a “preferred training institution” for airframe and power plant mechanics.
It was evaluated by Delta TechOps personnel and found to “meet FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] standards as well as Delta’s high principles that exceed industry standards,’ according to Joe McDermott, managing director of cabin maintenance, training, safety, and support services for Delta.
AMTs keep aircraft in safe flying condition by servicing, repairing and overhauling aircraft and aircraft components while following detailed federal regulations set by the FAA.
The airline industry is anticipating AMTs to be in high demand in the next few years.
A recent report by international management consulting firm Oliver Wyman stated that the demand for AMTs is “forecast to outstrip supply by 9 percent” by 2027, due in part to a record number of technicians expected to retire. In fact, according to the 2017 Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Survey titled “When Growth Outpaces Capacity,” the pinch is already being felt.
Mark Peeples, chair of WCC’s Aviation Systems Technology department, says that each of the 150 aviation maintenance programs in the nation will have to produce more than 226 graduates each year over the next 20 years to meet the need.
That means “the jobs are everywhere,” Peeples said. “My phone rings a half dozen times a week – ‘do you have any people who want to go to work.’”
“This partnership will benefit the school’s students by gaining Delta as a resource for continuous improvement of the AMT program along with Delta’s assistance with marketing the program to prospective students,” said McDermott. “Additionally, partnering with Delta will broaden access to the benefits of AMT careers available within the global aviation industry.”
“I’m terribly excited,” Peeples. He gives Aviation Instructor Mike Crumpler and their students credit for helping Delta see the quality of the program during interviews and site visits.
“We know we have a good program here,” Peeples said, noting that students have come from as far as New Jersey to participate in it and that 100 percent of his graduates pass their FAA exams. “We’re happy that Delta is willing to start growing for their program here.”
Wayne Community College offers an associate in applied science degree in Aviation Systems Technology and diplomas in Airframe and Power Plant. The program has been FAA Part 147-approved since 1969.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 12,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. For more information, go to www.waynecc.edu.
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 306 destinations in 52 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available at www.delta.com.
About Delta TechOps
Delta TechOps is the largest airline maintenance, repair and overhaul provider in North America. Its customers laud its reputation for high-quality service and cost management. In addition to supplying maintenance and engineering support for Delta’s fleet of more than 800 aircraft, Delta TechOps serves more than 150 other aviation and airline customers around the world. The organization specializes in high-skill work such as engines, components, hangar and line maintenance. Delta TechOps employs more than 10,000 maintenance professionals and is one of the world’s most-experienced providers with more than 70 years of aviation experience. More about Delta TechOps is available at www.deltatechops.com.