When Carlos Barraza landed a job as a mechanic at Castle & Cooke Aviation, he felt right at home.
Based at Van Nuys airport, the company leases airplane hangars and other facilities to private charter companies in addition to providing airline fuel and 24-hour ramp support.
“I served in the Marine Corp. for four years and my entire job there was doing the same thing,” the 25-year-old Lancaster resident said. “The only difference was the equipment itself.”
With aircraft mechanics and pilots retiring faster than they can be replaced, aviation businesses across the U.S. are increasingly turning to military veterans to fill openings.
The Aviation Technician Education Council said 2022 saw a 33% increase in newly certified aircraft mechanics, bringing the total to 6,929. But it wasn’t enough to offset the estimated 5,000 new mechanics who were lost as a result of an industry slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council predicts the nation’s aircraft mechanic pipeline will need to increase by at least 20% to meet the projected workforce demand.
The industry also continues to struggle with a significant pilot shortage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be an average of 18,000 openings a year for commercial pilots this decade, driven primarily by pilots who will be retiring.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued 12,771 commercial pilot certificates in 2021 and 13,715 in 2022.
To recognize airport employee veterans for their military service and attract others who are transitioning to civilian careers, Van Nuys Airport on July 4 is launching a virtual Veterans Honor Wall (www.vnyhonorwall.com), sponsored by the nonprofit Van Nuys Airport Association.
Airport Manager Paul Herrera said the hiring of military veterans is “critical for the future success of the entire aviation industry.”
He said there are myriad job opportunities including air traffic controllers, pilots, aircraft mechanics, avionics and line service…
Read the full article here