Nonprofit organization Habitat for Aviation in Franklin County State Airport in Highgate, Vermont, has launched a singular aviation repair and maintenance apprenticeship program that founder Beth White calls the first of its kind in the state. One of the focuses of Habitat for Aviation is electric aircraft, and plans include building a new training facility.
The Franklin County State Airport is the busiest general aviation airport in the state, with between 15 and 20 private planes operating there on a typical day. It sits about 5 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border in the town of Highgate. Habitat for Aviation also plans to build a new training facility to house the program. Program participants' work could then count toward a future professional certification such as an airframe and powerplant license.
“There’s no program that I know of that’s training youth to become the next generation of aviation mechanics for electric aircraft. Plans include converting a 9,600-square-foot warehouse into a hangar, with workshop space for electric motors and other aircraft components. The facility is meant to accommodate up to 30 participants with a kitchen and lockers. The program is meant to include course time toward an FAA airframe & powerplant certificate.
Beth White, Founder of Habitat for Aviation
Habitat for Aviation’s facility is expected to be completed in about a two-year time span. The program will be taking advantage of a few state workforce development grants and private foundations as two potential sources of funding, though the project is still in its early stages.
The program will also partner with the Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative which gives high school students a $1,000 scholarship to work in a trade for 120 hours with a mentor, who will also be compensated. There will also be a component for younger people as participants who complete 120 hours could serve as a tryout period, and if people like the work at Habitat for Aviation, they’d be able to continue on after the fellowship ended with financial support from a cost-share partner such as a company in the aviation industry.
Habitat for Aviation is already working with Beta Technologies, the South Burlington-based electric aircraft manufacturer. One of the main factors in the growth of Habitat for Aviation is the increasing demand for aircraft technicians and other aviation technical positions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics aircraft repair and maintenance needs are expected to increase by 11 percent over the next decade, higher than the average for other careers.
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