ASU Mid-South unveils new Aviation Technology Center

ASU Mid-South unveils new Aviation Technology Center

Local dignitaries on hand for reveal of college’s newest offering

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Channeling her inner Joanna Gaines and with all the excitement of the big reveal scene in the show “Fixer Upper,” ASU Mid-South Chancellor Debra West unveiled the college’s new FedEx Aviation Technology Center.

“Are you ready to see your new Aviation Technology Center?” exclaimed West.

An uproarious “yes” resounded from the crowd of about 100 on hand for the dedication.

With that the big hanger bay doors retracted and rumbled open to enthusiastic applause revealing a line up of serious aviation students, teachers and staff standing shoulder to shoulder in front of three aircraft.

“This historic day has been six long years in the making and it is the culmination of great vision, a lot of hard work from a notable group of public and private partners working toward the common goal of providing industry in this region with the skilled workforce they need while also providing opportunities to the people of this region for high wage, high demand jobs in a high growth field of aviation maintenance technology,” said West.

Former MSCC President Glen Fenter touted the big opportunities available through the aviation program that FedEx backed for the school.

“When we started this, we had no idea it would take this long,” said Fenter. “If you examine the six state region you will recognize there is not another program designed to do what this one will do. With the set of circumstance we find ourselves in eastern Arkansas, every chance you get you need to recognize when something world class is on our midst.

FedEx is a world class company partnering with an enter community to produce a true world class set of opportunities for the people who live here in an industry as important as transportation.

“Most importantly, we need to be thankful that our young people have world class education and world class career opportunities right here at home,” said Fenter.

FedEx Senior Vice President of Technical Operations George Silverman continued the focus on stu- dent training as aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) and the wide open high paying career paths.

“The aviation industry offers many exciting career opportunities to today’s young adults,” said Silverman. “Becoming an aviation maintenance technician is a great job for someone that loves to use there hands and their brains to accomplish good things.

All the better if you embrace technology, because airlines today are moving forward with technology as tools so they can become more efficient and effective in doing maintenance. Aircraft

maintenance is a wonderful position that pays a

whole lot of money. At FedEx we depend on AMTs every single day to deliver our packages on time.”

Silverman pointed to industry studies showing a big demand for new AMTs like those produced at the new FedEx Aviation Maintenance

Technology Center

at ASU Mid-South.

“Boeing estimates that

679,000 new employee, new AMTs are going to be needed in the next 20 years,” said Silverman.

“Students ready to take positions in this area are going to be in a great positions. You got to get the education, and you can do that right here.”

By John Rech