Located just west of the legendary One-Six-Right runway at Van Nuys Airport, it is the only known airframe and power plant mechanics training program in the nation that is open to high-school students. It's also one of just a few located at an airport.
Pretty pathetic reporting.
http://www.aviationhs.net/
I also attended a High School based A&P Program in Nassau County New York and several of my coworkers attended a similar program in Suffiolk, while both of those are closed Aviation HS is still going strong suppling mechanics to Con Ed, Local 1 Elevator mechanics and various other industries. A few years back I leafletted the school with information about the state of our industry. The administration was not happy with the information I shared.
There are now an estimated 121,500 aircraft mechanics, with a projected employment of 129,300 by 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Approximately 10 years ago the number was 330,000 according to the FAA. So its down more than half and the overwhelming majority are well over 45 years of age. At AA over half are over 50, the company admitted that during negotiations, thats why they figured the members would not vote against terminating the Prefunding for those under 50.
The airlines must be subsidizing these schools, back in 1977 the cost for a HS based program was $2500, now its only $1000. With only 150 students paying $1000 the school obviously is not funded through tuition.
In 2001 the company eliminated the JR Mechanic program so the nearest equivelent is the OSM.
Starting pay at AA for a mechanic with no experience is $9.58, a far cry from $50k, its less than $20k. We have scores of A&P mechanics who have been waiting for as many as eight years for the opportunity to upgrade. So if these kids want a job at AA after school their only options are to go to either Oklahoma or Texas and wait their turn to try and upgrade. Even in Oklahoma $20k isnt a whole lot of money.
The starting pay for an experienced mechanic, and you have to now have only two years experience working heavy turbine aircraft to be hired as a line mechanic, is $14.74 plus licenses, comes out to around $41k per year. With 18 month progressions it would take them 5 more years to hit $50 k. So figure it would take these kids around 7 to 10 years from when they get certified before they would see $50k.
Currently, in 2011, the base starting pay for a mechanic with no experience is $9,58, in 1995 the year these kids were born, starting pay for a Mechanic with no experience (Junior) was $12.17.
So over the span of their lives not only has the pay not kept up with inflation, it has been cut but 30%. Is this really a good career choice for these kids?
I think we need to take a little trip to "educate" those students what the industry really has in store for them. I think that girls Mustang will start looking a lot more interesting to her.
There's a reason why there's a shortage.