KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-Aircraft job outlook in Blytheville shines
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BLYTHEVILLE, AR (KAIT) - Looking for work? Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville is getting ready to gear up their aircraft maintenance program.
With a grant shared among 8 aviation schools, the college has purchased all of the equipment they need to start classes.
Program Coordinator Kate Leal described what would fill up the now empty space. "Our shop classes will be here for sheet metal, riveting, things like that. Also we will have our turbine engines, reciprocating engines, radial engines will also be in here."
Belonging to the consortium gives the schools advantages like shared equipment or if one has excess they can share with the other schools.
The program will take about 2 years to complete and once graduated the opportunity for employment is pretty good. Like at Aviation Repair Technologies just down the road at the old Eaker Air Force Base.
Leal says the college is developing their program around ART requirements. "We're working with them so that these students are geared to what they are going to need."
In the Blytheville area, Aircraft Repair Technologies (ART) is expanding rapidly, creating an even greater need for qualified aircraft technicians. Many anticipate the need is even greater than first expected for these specially skilled individuals.
Rick Uber is the C-O-O of ART and says there is work already for those graduates.
"Our goal is to train the local community or train the ones coming out of school. As the folks that are currently here we had to go out into the industry to bring in the skill to the local community."
One of the programs that ART is currently using is the apprentice program. Matt Vines an Air Force Vet is currently working and plans to get his A & P when the program begins. Vines thinks that the school will be good for the area.
Vines, "I think it will be great for the area, lot of kids get out of school give them something to do besides leave town. Maybe keep more people here in Blytheville."
There will be scholarship money available Leal says it may be up to 5 hundred dollars per semester and may include the summer term.
The program is tentively scheduled to begin in January. We will continue to track this story and give you the details as they become available.
