Airbus and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey unveiled two new workforce initiatives this month designed to steer more local residents into aerospace careers, as the Mobile-based aircraft manufacturer looks to grow its homegrown talent pipeline.
The first effort, called FlightPath9, targets incoming high school seniors who have an interest in aviation and an aptitude for hands-on technical work. Candidates must be willing to commit to a nine-month program, remain drug free, meet basic literacy and math requirements, turn 18 by June 2020 and demonstrate solid workplace skills, according to Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of Airbus’ Mobile A320 manufacturing facility, who spoke at an announcement event held downtown at the Riverview Plaza.
Gov. Ivey said the program puts participating students “on a path to a career,” calling the launch a “spectacular day” for the students involved and for the region’s aerospace industry as a whole.
The inaugural FlightPath9 class includes 25 students drawn from 10 Mobile County schools and one Baldwin County school. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School sent the largest contingent with six students, followed by B.C. Rain High School with five. St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope was the only Baldwin County school represented in the first cohort.
Airbus officials said the strong showing from B.C. Rain reflects the school’s existing aerospace academy, which has already introduced many of its students to aviation coursework. Among that group is incoming senior Ty’Nora Edwards, who called her selection a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Edwards said she turned down an invitation from Stanford University to take part in a summer law program in order to instead pursue a Naval aviation course, though she still hopes to eventually attend law school and work as an attorney for the Navy.
Ben Vereen, an incoming senior at McGill-Toolen, said he is looking forward to the twice-weekly evening classes that will run alongside his regular school schedule and after-school job. He said the program offers a clear route into the aerospace industry and a chance to build a relationship with Airbus before graduation.
To identify candidates, Airbus first reached out to school counselors, who shared information with interested students. The company then held an information session for students and parents, followed by drug screening and round-robin interviews to determine which applicants were the best fit for the inaugural class. Officials said the company will evaluate its staffing needs each year to determine how many students can join future FlightPath9 classes, with the first year focused primarily on Mobile County public and Catholic schools. Airbus said the program could expand to additional schools and counties in future years.
As part of FlightPath9, Airbus is partnering with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which already operates two campuses in Mobile, to provide participating seniors with more than 200 hours of instruction and the opportunity to earn as many as 13 industry certifications. Classes will be taught by Mobile-based faculty and will run two evenings a week from 3:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., with dinner provided.
Students who complete FlightPath9 will be eligible to join Airbus as full-time employees through the company’s second new initiative, the Fast Track program. Fast Track is open to anyone with an interest in aerospace, regardless of prior experience, and pays $16 an hour during a 12-to-15-week training period. Participants learn core aircraft-assembly skills such as torqueing, riveting, gauging, blueprint reading, tool use and ergonomics before moving on to hands-on training on Airbus’ A220 and A320 aircraft lines in Mobile.
Fast Track openings are currently available for electrician, structural assembler and corrosion team positions, with postings listed on Airbus’ career site. Together, company officials said, FlightPath9 and Fast Track are meant to build a steady homegrown pipeline of skilled workers for the growing Mobile aerospace campus, giving local students and job seekers a direct route into the industry without requiring a four-year degree.