American Airlines and Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) announce a new partnership that provides aspiring aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) with a direct career path to American. The memorandum of understanding guarantees top candidates from AIM’s Chicago campus with interviews at American, provides ongoing engagement with American’s team of aviation maintenance professionals, and offers access to American’s maintenance facilities. Eligible students will also be offered financial assistance for certification exams and toolboxes to start their careers off on the right foot.
“There is no better place to start an aircraft maintenance technician career than at American,” said Evie Garces, American Airlines Vice President of Line Maintenance, who began her career as an American AMT at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Sometimes, all it takes is a path and the realization that there is a place for you if you work hard and want it. At American, we want the best up-and-coming AMTs to join our more than 12,000 aviation maintenance professionals, who each day are responsible for the safety of every customer and team member onboard our aircraft. And more than that, we want to help aspiring AMTs by charting a path like the one established through our growing partnership with AIM.”
About 4,000 students are currently pursuing certifications to become aircraft mechanics within AIM’s 21-month program. With 14 FAA-certificated aviation maintenance schools around the country, AIM is the largest aviation maintenance training organization in the United States.
“We are thrilled to be extending our relationship with American Airlines and providing a direct pathway to employment for our students,” said Joel English, Executive Vice President for AIM. “Our goal is to be an agent of personal and professional transition for our students, as well as a solution for the workforce needs of the airlines and aircraft manufacturers. This direct relationship with American Airlines is a significant step forward for us and a great opportunity for our students.”
The partnership also provides American Airlines team members who are interested in becoming aviation maintenance professionals with reduced tuition rates and a waived application fee at AIM’s 14 campuses across the United States.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is a network of aviation maintenance schools with campuses coast-to-coast in the United States and headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. AIM students are trained to meet the demand of commercial, cargo, corporate, and private aviation employers. AIM graduates have the opportunity to obtain certifications with the Federal Aviation Administration, American Welding Society, Environmental Protection Agency, and OSHA. AIM’s campuses are near the following major metro areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Newark/New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, San Francisco Bay, Orlando, and Norfolk. AIM is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
