How does Valley trade school address aviation technician shortage?<\/p>\n
Jay McDowell, the center\u2019s lead aviation instructor, said West-MEC tackles the issue by training high school juniors and seniors for jobs in this in-demand field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have many students that work (at) Sky Harbor,\u201d McDowell told\u00a0KTAR News 92.3 FM. \u201cWe have people that work up at Grand Canyon, Deer Valley, Buckeye Airport, all over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through West-MEC\u2019s two-year aviation program, students gain hands-on experience and graduate ready to earn their\u00a0FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Graduates are ready to step into Arizona\u2019s aerospace industry and help meet the growing demand, McDowell said.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s causing the shortage of aircraft mechanics in the U.S.?<\/p>\n The aircraft mechanic shortage<\/a> stems from pandemic-related disruptions and a surge in retirements<\/a>\u00a0within the industry.<\/p>\n \u201cOur industry is in dire need of qualified, successful young men and women to fill the void for the people retiring,\u201d McDowell said. \u201cAnd through our program here at West-MEC, we provide them that.\u201d<\/p>\n McDowell said his students learn how to build and fix landing gear, engines, wing structures and more on a variety of aircrafts.<\/p>\n Aspiring aviation technician explains how the certification works<\/p>\n One of those students is 18-year-old\u00a0Justus Coleman, who completes the program in June 2026.<\/p>\n Coleman said having the opportunity to be certified in this career path at such a young age gives him a head up in the industry.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the time I\u2019m 19, I\u2019ll have my certificates,\u201d Coleman told KTAR News 92.3 FM. \u201cI\u2019ll start a job really early, and, then, that\u2019ll give me like a jump start in life, so I\u2019ll be almost ahead of my peers.\u201d<\/p>\n Currently he\u2019s pursuing airframe and powerplant certificates, which cover two key parts of maintaining aircraft. His favorite part is working on the aircraft\u2019s outer frame.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got to like create (what\u2019s) called a spar,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cIt\u2019s just like part of the wing, but we get to start from scratch and so like we created the whole metal. We cut it out. We like riveted it. That took about a month, but it was like the most fun I\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n Students test for the FAA certificates after they graduate the aviation program.<\/p>\n Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.<\/p>\n Follow @@shiratanzernews<\/a><\/p>\n We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/KTAREmail-830x100-1.jpg\")
\t