MOBILE, Ala. — Coastal Alabama Community College is expanding its aviation maintenance training to help meet rising demand for skilled aircraft mechanics in southwest Alabama.
The Alabama Aviation Center at the college currently has about 450 students enrolled, bringing the program to 99% capacity, according to Director of Aviation Dave Mosow. Students learn a broad range of skills — sheet metal work, hydraulics and engine teardown and rebuild — that qualify them to service aircraft ranging from commercial jets to Coast Guard helicopters. “They get a broad spectrum of what happens in aviation maintenance,” Mosow said.
To make room for more students, the college is building an 18,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility that will let future mechanics work on planes and helicopters indoors. “It’s going to rival many institutions around the country in aviation training,” said Dr. Aaron Milner, president of Coastal Alabama Community College. “We really think it’s going to change training and aviation for southwest Alabama and be a benefit to our state.” Milner said he hopes the new facility will be in use by January.
Program officials say the expansion comes as the aviation maintenance workforce nationally nears a wave of retirements. “Most of the aircraft maintainers now are getting towards retirement age. They’re going to retire in the next 10 to 15 years,” said student Brady Smart. “It’s very important that we’re able to get newer, younger people in, get them working on those aircraft, get them learning now.” Mosow said area employers are already recruiting students before graduation, hoping to retain them afterward.