New opportunities for education and employment are taking flight on Maryland’s lower Eastern Shore thanks to a new training program for aircraft mechanics.
The Aviation Maintenance Technician Training Program recently received Federal Aviation Administration certification and is now set to launch in August. The program is a unique collaboration between Wicomico County, the State of Maryland, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Piedmont Airlines. The one-year, 1,900-hour program allows students to start work as FAA-certified Aviation Maintenance Technicians fairly quickly compared to similar programs.
“Our accelerated program is designed to exceed the requirements of the FAA by providing state of the art training equipment and applying modern technology in the classrooms and hangar spaces. Meeting and exceeding the FAA requirements in 12 months rather than the usual 18 to 24 months will help to alleviate the aircraft mechanic shortage plaguing the country,” said Program Manager Chris Proscia.
Many similar programs are combined with associate’s degree programs which could take another six to twelve months to complete, said David Ryan, executive director of Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development.
This new program allows students to stop after getting a certificate or put those credits toward a four-year aviation sciences degree from UMES.
Ryan recalls that the growing need for mechanics in the aviation industry became clear years ago, and grew only more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders in the region began discussing a program to meet that need in late 2020, he said.
“We didn’t quite know at the outset how it was going to be set up or who was going to operate it,” Ryan said. “We just knew that with the right partners we could meet that need.”
Fortunately, partners were easy to find. Not only did UMES have the existing aviation sciences program, but a professional pilot program is based at SBY. Essential support from the aviation industry came from Piedmont Airlines, which is based in Salisbury and has an operations center and maintenance facility at the airport.
“Many young people don’t realize the incredible opportunities available in aviation beyond flying or working at the airport, and this program helps shine a light on the essential role of aviation maintenance,” said Piedmont Airlines CEO Eric Morgan. “We take great pride in having a strong local presence and with support from the state of Maryland and other stakeholders, this opportunity reflects our commitment to building a strong future for our industry and our region. With programs like this, students can see that they don’t have to leave their hometown to build a meaningful career with a national airline.”
Ryan also credits support from Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, who quickly embraced the project after her election in 2022, for bringing the project to fruition so quickly.
“This achievement represents years of dedication and collaboration,” Giordano said in a statement. “The aviation maintenance school is not only a cornerstone for workforce development in our region but also a beacon of innovation and opportunity. We are proud to work alongside UMES to bring this vital program to fruition. Together, we are creating pathways for students to excel in the aviation industry while contributing to the economic growth of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”
With the new maintenance training school joining the region’s existing pilot and aviation sciences programs, Wicomico County now has a unique advantage over its peers in the industry, Ryan said.
“I think you’d be hard-pressed to find that combination anywhere else in America,” he said. “It’s a robust offering and I think we can really grow commerce and add jobs in our region.”
