Airline Wants to Grow Their Own Techs Ahead of Forecast Industry Shortage

Republic Airways will seek to make its own technicians and call dibs early, partnering with aviation maintenance schools to launch a maintenance cadet program, enabling students to obtain conditional job offers midway through their schooling for future careers at the airline. 

With similar programs in use for pilots at legacy airlines, competition will heat up for graduates looking to leverage the best deal for themselves once fresh out of school.

Students at 2 and 4-year A&P programs are eligible for interview in the program, after taking and passing their FAA general exam at 400 hours of training for their Airframe and Powerplant Certification. After a successful interview with a Republic recruiter, they are invited to join the RJet Maintenance Cadet Program and receive a conditional offer of employment. As they near completion of their certification, they will receive interview priority with base management as well as priority selection of a training class date and base location. 

The post-2020 economy has reportedly seen personnel difficulties across the board. “Shortage” seems to be the buzzword of the day, but many of the industry’s shortfalls are only worsening problems that were present years beforehand. The lack of qualified aircraft technicians was already keenly felt in some regions of the domestic market, and the decreasing numbers of graduates last year may have painted an even bleaker picture for maintenance departments planning future staffing and retention.

This year’s Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook projected a shortfall of 626,000 aircraft technicians worldwide, with around 20,000 students graduating last year. Republic is wise to beat other airlines to new crops of technicians before they reach the open employment market, if the industry plays out as expected. Recent news has shown a hint of what can happen to an understaffed airline, and it's a problem best avoided. 

As young students increasingly eschew expensive college attendance, seeing a losing value proposition with mediocre job prospects for the majority of degrees offered, tech schools are poised to enjoy a renaissance as students rediscover the cost-effective training, widespread demand, job security, and flexible home selection of career path certification. Republic will begin its hiring efforts at Aviation Institute of Maintenance, National Aviation Academy, Purdue University, Vaughn College among others.

FMI: www.rjets.com