West Star Aviation To Open a Maintenance Training Academy in January | Aviation International News

Training and Workforce

West Star To Open a Maintenance Training Academy

The company plans to hire 25 paid apprentices

West Star East Alton, Illinois (Photo: West Star Aviation) — West Star is moving to bolster its talent pipeline with plans to open a training academy at its facility in East Alton, Illinois. (Photo: West Star Aviation)

By Gregory Polek • Senior Editor

October 24, 2023

The ongoing aircraft mechanics shortage has prompted West Star Aviation to open a maintenance school called West Star Aviation Academy (WSAA) in January at its facility in East Alton, Illinois, the company said Tuesday. West Star plans to hire 25 apprentices who will spend seven and a half months learning and earning wages and benefits. They will receive hands-on practical training, mentoring, and job shadowing in preparation for their FAA license tests.

Under a partnership with West Star, Southwestern Illinois College will run WSAA through its Part 147 FAA-approved curriculum at a dedicated learning hangar that incorporates the newly developed Choose Aerospace curriculum and proprietary West Star technical training. West Star says WSAA will accelerate the skill development to certify new technicians more quickly than the industry’s traditional 18- to 30-month apprenticeship programs.

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