Pensacola State College (PSC) marked another milestone on Monday with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new 34,000-square-foot Aviation Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Program facility at the Pensacola International Airport.
Strong Partnerships: The program’s establishment was supported through extensive collaboration, including funding from Governor Ron DeSantis’s job growth grant through the Florida Department of Commerce, efforts by Northwest Florida’s legislative delegation, Triumph Gulf Coast, Santa Rosa County Economic Development, and ST Engineering, along with cooperation from the City of Pensacola and the Pensacola International Airport Authority.
- Important donations have already started coming in to support the program. InDyne Corporation, owned by Don Bishop, was the first to donate an aircraft—a 1982 Fairchild Merlin IV. Additionally, PSC is working to acquire a decommissioned T1 Jayhawk aircraft from NAS, an initiative started by U.S. Air Force 812 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s leadership.
Addressing Critical Industry Needs
PSC President Ed Meadows emphasized the program’s importance, noting, “The development and expansion of aviation maintenance is a big part of what’s happening in the aviation world in northwest Florida.” With ST Engineering’s expansion, Leonardo Helicopters in Santa Rosa County, and numerous local aviation maintenance businesses, the college is responding directly to growing industry demands.
- The first cohort of students entered the 18-month certification program in August 2024, receiving FAA-aligned training in airframe and powerplant mechanics. Additional students will join the program in May.
Mike Listau, Dean of Workforce Education at PSC, explained that the program addresses “the significant shortage of aircraft mechanics who need to be trained to enter the workforce,” adding that “there are not enough people to go to work in this field.”
Innovative Learning Environment
While construction of the permanent facility continues, students are currently training in mezzanine space provided by ST Engineering, which overlooks their Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility. This unique arrangement allows students to observe real-world aviation maintenance operations, including aircraft repurposing projects like converting passenger planes to cargo aircraft.
- According to Listau, this immersive environment allows students to “envision a career in aviation maintenance” while observing actual employment prospects. Though focused primarily on meeting local workforce needs, the training prepares students for global career opportunities.
The program attracts diverse participants, including veterans transitioning from military service, dual-enrollment high school students, and members of the general public. PSC has assembled “a great team of instructors and support staff who have dedicated their lives to aviation and aviation mechanics,” many of whom are semi-retired military personnel who have found second careers in education.
- The groundbreaking ceremony featured a special surprise when Jeffrey Lam, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, presented the program with a $100,000 scholarship check “to be awarded to deserving students over the next five years…as a service to the community.” Lam expressed optimism about “the remarkable achievements of the students who will benefit from these opportunities.”