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Oklahoma's Aerospace Industry Needs More Skilled Labor
In some cases, companies recruit workers and give them on-the-job training. With high demand for skilled aerospace workers, turnover is constant.
"There aren't very many places to get skilled workers," said Chris Russo, with Pro-Fab.
Training centers in Oklahoma City can't graduate students fast enough. Most aviation-related programs have waiting lists of six months; in some cases it's a year.
Most of the aircraft maintenance technician graduates from Metro Tech Aviation Career Center and Gordon Cooper Technology Center go to work at Tinker. The Air Force base needs 150 FAA-certified mechanics a year, said Al Rich, deputy director of the 76th Maintenance Wing.
Increasing training capacity would require additional funds, educators say. Metro-Tech has asked the Oklahoma Legislature to allocate $907,000 to turn hangar space into classrooms and labs and hire instructors. Lawmakers have yet to decide on the request. The Legislative session ends Friday.
"You need to make some noise about this," said Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, who attended the meeting. "A lot of lawmakers are unaware of this problem. Make some noise and make it now. Anything can change in the next five days."
Training centers also are responding. Francis Tuttle will begin a 144-hour sheet metal course day students can complete in six-weeks or night students in eight-weeks. Metro Tech, in expanding its sheet metal classes, is accelerating the program. Both courses start in June; enrollment is open.
