Hagerstown Event Showcases High Demand Careers in Aviation Maintenance

    Nov. 1, 2017
    Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics will host a public open house on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. at its Hagerstown, MD, campus located at 14516 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742.
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    HAGERSTOWN, MD — Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics will host a public open house on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. at its Hagerstown, MD, campus located at 14516 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742.

    Visitors to PIA’s November 4th Open House event will have the opportunity to tour the campus classrooms and hangar, learn about 16 and 21-month programs, view interactive demonstrations, meet faculty and students and learn about career opportunities.

    What’s particularly interesting is that PIA events at its campuses in Pittsburgh, Hagerstown, Youngstown and Myrtle Beach have been attracting more employers than there are graduates to fill open positions.

    “Our November 4th Open House gives PIA the opportunity to deliver critical information about career demand,” said Suzanne Markle, President and CEO of the non-profit PIA. “That we are hosting events with such a large number of companies in comparison to the number of upcoming graduates attending is a strong indicator of career demand. We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level mechanic skills we know our employers are looking for.”

    According to Boeing’s 2016 Current Market Outlook, the aviation industry will require more than 118,000 maintenance technicians by 2035 in North America. According to PIA Career Services officials, employers are seeking A&P mechanics with strong soft skills, leadership qualities and dependability - all skills required to grow and advance within a company.

    The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a median salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians at $58,390 (medians are not reflective of starting salaries).

    Since 1929, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics campus has been training certified and work-ready aviation maintenance technicians in high demand with programs in Aviation Maintenance Technology and Aviation Electronics. PIA’s flagship program, the Aviation Maintenance Technology program, has been providing quality aircraft mechanics for over 85 years. This program provides students with the opportunity to test for the prestigious FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant Certification, the “golden ticket” to a career in aviation maintenance.

    ABOUT PIA’S HAGERSTOWN CAMPUS

    95% of eligible graduates from the Hagerstown Campus started working in the aviation industry or in a field utilizing their PIA education for the time period of June 30, 2014 to July 1, 2016.  The average PIA graduate starting salary is $36,000 for the 2015 fiscal year.  While PIA cannot guarantee employment, graduates do receive one-on-one and ongoing placement assistance. 

    Recent graduate’s employment includes Piedmont, Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services, CommutAir, and Endeavor to name some of the employers.

    PIA’s Hagerstown Campus, located at 14516 Pennsylvania Avenue, is Maryland’s only FAA approved A&P training program.  Since its 2011 opening, PIA Hagerstown has hosted students from Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and as far west as California.  PIA-Hagerstown is approved for Veterans Benefits.

    Students receive technical instruction but also enjoy part time job opportunities from local employers. In addition, qualified students living in Allegany, Garrett or Washington County may receive an educational grant of up to $4,500 for the 4th semester from the Western Maryland Consortium for those who qualify.

    ABOUT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICS

    The school was opened by Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright in 1927 as Curtiss-Wright Flying Service, and became PIA in 1929. Today, PIA is a non-profit, career-focused family of schools offering programs in Aviation Maintenance and Aviation Electronics.

    The instructional staff combine real-world experience with classroom instruction, and a wide range of student and graduate services.  PIA’s Career Services team works individually with each student to reach their employment goals. PIA is often the first stop for many employers looking for quality employees. PIA offers an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree at its West Mifflin, PA, location and Diploma programs in Youngstown, OH, Hagerstown, MD, and Myrtle Beach, SC. 

    Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recognized among the top schools fighting the nation’s skills gap in a list published in 2017 by Forbes. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics lands as the No. 11 Two-Year Trade School in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades.

    Niche rankings place Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in the #8 position among 619 trade schools in the United States for 2017 and #2 of 23 in Pennsylvania. Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews. Additionally, in 2017, Zippia placed PIA among the top 10 best U.S. junior colleges for jobs based on a variety of score card data including emphasis on job placement results.

    PIA’s campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach have been selected as four of approximately 40 aircraft maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines in an effort to find the schools whose graduates are able to meet or exceed their high expectations.

    There is open enrollment through the year accompanied with admissions requirements. For more information, call 1-800-444-1440, or visit www.pia.edu.