Aviation mechanic school coming to East Valley

A new career path for Valley youth is just on the horizon. The Palm Springs Air Museum and Riverside County want local kids to think about becoming airplane mechanics. The two are pairing up to start a brand new aviation school in Thermal.

The idea behind the school sounds almost too good to be true. It is expected to be a two year hands on program with a high paying job just about guaranteed when you are done.

While aerobatic pilots and skydivers will showcase their talents in the sky during this weekend’s air show, Valley leaders hope it will inspire kids on the ground to get into the world of aviation.

“One of the things that we are hearing is with all of the baby boomers guys my ages retiring, there is a lot of openings for people coming up in the airlines,” said Palm Springs Air Museum Vice Chairman Fred Bell.

That’s why the Palm Springs Air Museum is starting an aviation technical training program.

Several planes the museum features are only in flying condition today because of mechanics, just like the ones that this program hopes to train.

“Maybe go through an academy at high school, a technical academy then come into a program like this and in 2,000 hours walk out with a certificate, learn from a hands on profession not have a mountain of debt and go right to work for a company that wants you,” said Bell.

Starting salary for an aviation mechanic is about $50,00 a year.

“If we have young people here who are earning good salaries and maintaining strong family ties they will be able to help their families here ion the Coachella Valley and raise the entire community up, that is our hope,” said Riverside County Economic Development Association Deputy Director Phil Rosentrater.

The program will start in a hanger next to the Jacqueline Cochran Airport originally built for the future Riverside County Sheriff’s aviation unit

“We are going to work together together to get them in a permanent facility on ground that is owned just beyond the property line here but in the meantime there is a beautiful hanger, there is classroom, there is offices that were not being used,” said Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit.

Tuition rates have not yet been set, but the Palm Springs Air Museum says scholarships will be part of the conversation.

“Not only is it a good training tool, but it is also a good economic development piece for the east county in that very conceivably a manufacturer could locate here because they need those types of skills,” said Bell.

The Palm Springs Air Museum now has to partner with a teaching company do the certificate training, that is expected to happen by March. Classes could begin as early as next fall.