ST Engineering today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pensacola State College to explore setting up an Aviation Training Academy in Pensacola, U.S. The collaboration is part of ST Engineering’s continued growth and expansion plans in Pensacola, where it is developing an airframe MRO complex that comprises four large state-of-the-art hangars at Pensacola International Airport when completed. The MoU was signed today at the official opening of the airframe MRO complex’s second hangar.

Pensacola State College is the oldest and biggest college in the Florida Panhandle, offering multiple academic and career options including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, advanced technical certificates, college credit certificates, vocational certificates and diplomas. Under the agreement, ST Engineering and Pensacola State College will collaborate to develop a Federal Aviation Administration Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician School at the Pensacola International Airport. ST Engineering will use its rich expertise and experience as a global aviation MRO provider todevelop the apprenticeship program and provide “direct to industry” job opportunities for the academy’s apprentices, while Pensacola State College will seek FAA approval for the certification of the academy partnership and work together with ST Engineering to strengthen public awareness of career opportunities in theaviation sector.

The plan to develop an aviation training academy comes at a time when global air travel is recovering strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic, and skilled aviation maintenance professionals are in high demand not only in the U.S., but across the world. Targeting to roll out training in 2024, the academy will help support the talent needs of ST Engineering’s airframe MRO complex in Pensacola, as well asmeet the hiring needs of the aviation industry in the region at large.