Triad School’s New Aviation Lab to Help Fill Skills Gap in NC Jobs
A new lab at a Triad charter school is helping students take flight into their future careers.
Victoria Uchman is learning to fly an airplane in Phoenix Academy’s new aviation lab.
“It’s so exciting because it gives me another opportunity, another opening, another door to pass through so that you can have a chance at a better career,” Uchman said.
HAECO Americas Vice President Kip Blakely and his company are hoping the lab inspires those careers in aviation at a young age.
“It’s not just that you’re going to be in an aviation academy learning,” Blakely told students. “You’re going to be doing. You’re going to be going on tours to aviation companies, job shadowing opportunities and paid internships.”
Students will visit those companies, then come back and apply what they’ve learned in the lab.
Students who choose to go on the career track at Phoenix Academy will have a paid internship at one the Triad’s major aviation employers by their senior year.
“They’ll graduate with hours toward FAA certification and a career diploma,” said Paul Norcross with Phoenix Academy. “GTCC is also working with us so they’ll have an early college associate diploma.”
It’s hoped the lab will help fill a skills gap for jobs Gov. Pat McCrory says are about to open in large numbers.
“The average age of a mechanic, electrician, or engineer right now is around 57-58 years old. So who is the next generation that’s going to fulfill this responsibility?” McCrory asked students.
School leaders named the lab after former Old Dominion Freight Line CEO John Yowell.