American Airlines. Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com American Airlines is expanding its aviation maintenance workforce development efforts in Charlotte through a new partnership with the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), offering scholarships, tuition discounts and career pathways for students and airport employees.
The agreement focuses on helping more people enter aviation maintenance, a field that requires specialized technical training and FAA certification. Under the partnership, students at AIM’s Charlotte campus will have opportunities to connect with American’s maintenance professionals, gain access to the airline’s maintenance facilities and pursue jobs with the carrier.
Top-performing students who graduate and obtain their FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification will be eligible for guaranteed job interviews with American.
The airline will also provide $25,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors enrolled in AIM Charlotte’s dual-credit Aviation Maintenance Technician program.
A separate initiative will make training more affordable for people already working at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). American and AIM are offering a 10% tuition discount to airport employees, regardless of which company employs them. According to the announcement, the discount could save workers an average of $5,000 over the course of their education.
The initiative is intended to open a route into aviation maintenance for workers in a range of airport jobs, including cabin cleaning, fueling and passenger assistance.
“Partnerships like this are essential to building the future of aviation maintenance,” said John Bendoraitis, American’s senior vice president of Technical Operations. He said the agreement would provide students with industry exposure, networking opportunities and a pathway to potential careers with the airline.
AIM has operated in Charlotte since 2019. Its chief executive, Jason Pfaff, said the school’s partnership with American and its affiliated companies has helped more than 100 AIM graduates begin careers in aviation.
The two organizations have worked together previously. In 2022, American and AIM announced a formal partnership involving the school’s Chicago campus, where students gained access to engagement opportunities with airline maintenance professionals and guaranteed interviews for open positions.
Charlotte is American’s second-largest hub, with approximately 16,500 airline employees based there. The carrier also has around 800 FAA-licensed aviation maintenance technicians at the airport, supporting its base and line maintenance operations.
American said it employs nearly 11,000 FAA-licensed maintenance technicians across its operations. Its regional subsidiaries, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines, also employ maintenance technicians in Charlotte.
To become an aviation maintenance technician, candidates typically complete 18 to 24 months of training at an FAA-certified school and pass the required examinations to obtain their Airframe and Powerplant certificate. A four-year college degree is not required.
The partnership comes as the aviation industry faces demand for qualified maintenance professionals. By combining financial assistance with access to industry facilities and potential employment opportunities, the program aims to help students and existing airport workers qualify for technical roles.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport Chief People Officer Natasha Jefferies said the initiative would support students pursuing aviation maintenance training while helping airport employees advance their careers.
American also points to the wider economic role of its Charlotte hub. A North Carolina State University economic impact study cited by the airline found that its Charlotte operations contribute more than $30 billion to North Carolina’s economy.