Published: September 13, 2007 05:24 pm      

Open house shows job opportunities within aviation

INDIANAPOLIS — Aviation is a growing job market here. So much so that companies within the industry are desperate for employees.

AAR Aircraft Services, which has a maintenance facility near Indianapolis International Airport, took a proactive approach on the issue. They invited high school guidance counselors from around the state to an open house Wednesday. It was an opportunity for them to learn more about career opportunities within aviation and aerospace, and take that back to their students.

“When you’re exposed to aviation, it’s something that gets in your blood,” said Rayner Hutchinson, AAR’s corporate vice president of quality and safety. “Most of us are here because we love it.”

But right now there’s not enough of them. AAR, which has its headquarters in Wood Dale, Ill., opened its maintenance facility here in 2004. At the outset they had 16 employees. The number is now up to 900.

“We’ve had explosive growth,” Hutchinson said. “But we would hire an additional 400 people this afternoon if we could find them.”

Purdue and Vincennes universities also participated in the open house. After a tour of VU’s Technology Center, the group boarded a 737 owned by the university and shuttled to AAR’s maintenance facility.

Hutchinson says the positions available in aviation are “of every kind — what it takes to run any business.” But specifically companies are looking for mechanics, technicians, and electricians of all stripes and specialties, and air traffic controllers. They’re not just targeting high schoolers who are deciding on their futures either. Displaced auto workers are coveted too, because those in aviation think, with a little training, they can quickly be assets to their operations.

“Qualified people are what we need,” Hutchinson said. “Right now the opportunity is awesome.”

And with current supply and demand so imbalanced, workers are commanding strong salaries and benefits. Hutchinson says there’s also plenty of room for advancement, at least with AAR.

“There are multiple aviation companies here,” he said. “All of them are struggling with their hiring. The question is where are we going to get these people? We would love to start that pipeline.”

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Online:

www.aarcorp.com

www.aviationtechcenter.com



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com