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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe significance of this program is to provide both\nexisting aviation industries and other related companies with a skilled\nworkforce before they enter the company\u2019s doors,\u201d said Mitch Robinson,\nExecutive Director for the Salina Community Economic Development Organization.\n\u201cThis advantage is a huge plus for the community and for those companies who\ntake part in the program.\u201d By providing real-world hands-on training using\naircraft from 1 Vision Aviation, this program will provide the student with a\nskill set that will provide them with a ready to start package of\nknowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mandy Merritt, Director of Quality Assurance for 1 Vision\nAviation says the shortage of aircraft maintenance personnel is being felt all\nover the country. \u201cWith the goals that the AIM program has set in providing a\ncrucial first step in exposing people to the industry, we will add high-paying\njobs in Salina and potentially, throughout the state. Every apprentice that the\nAIM Center places in the aircraft maintenance industry has the opportunity to\ntake their career in countless directions,\u201d said Merritt. \u201cThis is a very\nexciting initiative that has the potential to alleviate a deficit in the\naviation workforce, improve the community, and showcase the Salina Airport\nAuthority the entity working to advance all of the aviation companies operating\nin Salina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with 1 Vision Aviation, other AIM partners include the\nSalina Airport Authority, Dreiling Aviation Services, Salina Area Chamber of\nCommerce, Salina Tech, General Atomics \u2013 ASI, Salina EDO, Midwest ATC Services,\nKansas Workforce, KS Governor’s Military Council, USD 305, and K-State\nSalina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kirsten Zoller, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives\nfor K-State Salina said the industry needs innovative solutions to solving the\naviation workforce crisis. \u201cThe ability to upskill individuals in a condensed,\nhands-on approach is impactful.\u201d The AIM program exposes learners to a variety\nof aviation maintenance skills and career opportunities. Learners are equipped\nto start work right away or further their education. \u201cThis will help our\nregional and national industry partners to have a skilled workforce ready to\ntake on the challenges of the aerospace industry,\u201d said Zoller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Salina Airport Authority\u2019s hope is that the AIM Center\nwill enhance the reputation and recognition of the airport as a hub for\naviation innovation and excellence, as well as foster collaboration and\nnetworking among industry partners. The Airport Authority\u2019s involvement in the\nAIM Center will support the development and growth of the Salina Regional\nAirport and its tenants, as well as create new jobs and opportunities for local\nresidents and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe objectives of AIM are to address the shortage of skilled\naviation maintenance workers, including airframe and powerplant mechanic, sheet\nmetal specialist, electronics and avionics technician, composites, and aircraft\npaint; to attract a diversify workforce, with 75 professionals trained each\nyear and offer microcredentials for credit & certification.\nMicrocredentials are condensed units of learning that assess skills and\ncompetencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a collaborating partner with AIM, Kansas State University\nSalina Aerospace and Technology Campus (K-State Salina) is providing curriculum\ndevelopment and course instruction, and is partnering with AIM to help deliver\npractical, hands-on education \u2013 \u201csomething our campus has done for decades in\nthe aerospace and technology fields,\u201d said Zoller. Learners completing the\nprogram will additionally receive a K-State microcredential. \u201cLearners will be\nable to share this K-State microcredential with potential future employers and\neducation institutions,\u201d said Zoller. K-State Salina will also provide AIM\nlearners with information about the educational opportunities that they can\nreceive from K-State Salina, including associates, bachelor\u2019s and graduate\ndegrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With new demands and skills needed with the introduction of\nAdvanced Air Mobility and electric aircraft, AIM will specially train mechanics\nfor new use cases using advanced technology. Students in this program have an\naccelerated path to becoming an FAA certified mechanic and will be uniquely\nprepared with the skills needed to maintain new generations of aircraft, both\ncrewed and uncrewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Airport Authority believes that in the long term the AIM\nCenter will increase the availability and accessibility of skilled training and\neducation for current and future aviation professionals, as well as promote\ndiversity and inclusion in the workforce. \nIt will contribute to the economic development and growth of aviation in\nthe state, region, and the nation, as well as support the national security and\ndefense interests. By participating in\nthe AIM Center initiative, the Salina Airport Authority and its partners will\nbe able to leverage their strengths and resources to address some of the\nchallenges and opportunities facing the aviation industry in the 21st century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAIM is yet another example of what makes Salina and the\nState of Kansas an exciting place to live, learn, and work,\u201d said Curtis L.\nStevens, Ed.D., Director of Secondary Programs for USD 305, Salina Public\nSchools. \u201cThis program will help train a workforce that is needed to fill\nexisting positions in the aviation maintenance field. AIM will also help\nsupport efforts to attract other employment opportunities for the people of\nSalina and Kansas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AIM Center of Excellence will provide an additional 150\nskilled aviation technicians through the life of the grant, to meet the growth\ndemand of 1 Vision Aviation, as well as other aviation businesses located on\nthe Salina airport and the State of Kansas. This program seeks a diverse\nstudent population with outreach and pathways for high school students, college\nstudents, transitioning workers, and military veterans. Through partnership\nwith Kansas State University\u2019s outreach to 105 Kansas counties and Salina\nChamber\u2019s relationships with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina and St. Francis\nMinistries, this program will have active outreach to minority and\ndisadvantaged students for exploring potential aviation career paths.\nAdditionally, outreach efforts will build on the relationships K-State Salina\nand the Salina Chamber have established by actively connecting with Fort Riley\nthrough the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tucky Allen, Business Services Director\/Rapid Response\nCoordinator, Kansas Workforce One, said their role is to bring workforce to the\ntable and to market accordingly in their workforce centers. \u201cWe will work with\nemployers to set up Registered Apprenticeships that are in-line with AIM.\u201d Once\nRAs are established, they will work with their Workforce Centers and other\npartners to attract jobseekers to the RAs. They will also promote in the High\nSchools via their Work-Based Learning Program. \u201cAIM will add another pathway to\nexcellent, in-demand careers for Adults and Youth in the Region,\u201d said Allen.\n\u201cThis is huge for Salina and Kansas for economic development and workforce\ndevelopment and increased activity in Aerospace and Aviation training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From what Robinson and the Salina Community Economic\nDevelopment Organization has determined this is a one-of-a-kind program in the\nU.S. that is providing early training and education to those interested in\nworking in the aviation field. \u201cBy having this school in our community, state\nand in the industry, it will have a unique ability to help provide basic\ntraining in the identified four areas of interest along with general overviews\nof the aviation industry,\u201d said Robinson. \u201cThis course will help our existing\nMRO 1 Vision Aviation and other companies in our area who are seeking employees\nwho have graduated with this certification. This six-week program will give the\ngraduate a leg up on others who are seeking employment within the aviation\nindustry. By having this unique program, it allows Salina to have an advantage\nover other Kansas communities as well as other U.S. cities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlus, AIM exposes learners to aviation maintenance in an\naccessible and fun way,\u201d added Zoller. \u201cLearners will have the opportunity to\nlearn more about K-State Salina and we hope they will consider enrolling with\nus in other training programs or a K-State Salina degree. Ultimately, AIM helps\nus meet our mission statement of developing global leaders and fostering\ninnovation and talent development in aerospace, technology, and specific needs\nof the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny advantage that we can use in this competitive\nenvironment will be a big plus for our community as we compete against other\ncommunities here in Kansas or in the Midwest or other parts of the United\nStates,\u201d noted Robinson. \u201cThe aviation industry has spread out across the\nUnited States and the world with companies expanding to new regions and states\nas companies seek access to new markets for labor force and access to new\ncustomer bases. The impact will help make Salina a much more competitive location.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, AIM hopes to break new barriers and reach new\nheights by elevating student dreams and unlocking their future. \u201cI believe that\nthe Salina Region will see significant interest from Aerospace and Aviation\nsector employers looking to expand or relocate to Kansas,\u201d said Allen. \u201cI\nbelieve that the training center will give jobseekers the opportunity to\nApprentice in a skilled-trade area with high wages and job security. The days\nof Hawker-Beechcraft could soon be returning to Salina and the Region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do think that this initiative will make Kansas – and\nparticularly Salina, KS – the gold standard in recruitment and training for the\naviation maintenance industry,\u201d said Renee Duxler, President & CEO of the\nSalina Area Chamber of Commerce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stevens agrees, \u201cLong term, AIM will serve as a major\neconomic catalyst to our community\u2019s future success. AIM\u2019s establishment is\nanother example of how Salina continues to be a community on the move.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dreiling Aviation Services, in close collaboration with the\nAIM Center of Excellence, has all along, been at the heart of assembling and\nguiding the efforts of this exceptional team. \u201cTogether,\u201d said Lindsey\nDreiling, co-owner, and CEO of Dreiling Aviation Services of Salina, \u201cwe\u2019re\ncommitted to the future of aviation education and workforce readiness in Kansas\nand beyond.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AIM Center of Excellence is a place where everyone can aim\nfor the stars, so hold onto your seat because careers are about to take flight\n– Aviation, Innovation, and Maintenance – AIM Center of Excellence. Come join\nthe workforce that is innovating the future today. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Serving as a catalyst for future aviation growth in Salina and throughout Kansas, the Aviation Innovation and Maintenance (AIM) Center of Excellence has taken the first step to address the shortage of skilled workers hindering the growth and competitiveness of the aviation maintenance industry in Kansas. The AIM Center of Excellence apprenticeship training program will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144,98,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aerospace-education","category-aviation-education","category-kansas"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27120"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27123,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27120\/revisions\/27123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}