In 2018, the aerospace and defense industry hired more than 86,000 people to fill jobs that are evolving and changing at a speed never seen before.
Source: 2019 Workforce Report and Data Aviation Week
Starting in high school to AAR and beyond
The EAGLE Career Pathway Program is dedicated to growing the talent necessary to meet the aviation maintenance demands of the future.
2023 Mid skills gap report
Read how AAR is implementing collaborative approaches to solving the aviation mechanic shortage.
Learn about the exciting careers in aviation maintenance!
Hear from current AAR employees who are technicians, mechanics, and inspectors with bright futures in front of them.
Our core values
The EAGLE Career Pathway Program participants focus on five core values including Ethics, Airworthiness, Greatness, Leadership, and Engagement.
Career path and program overview
The path on the right represents approximately three years in the aviation maintenance field.
EAGLE Program overview:
- Student are eligible to enroll once they complete the General portion of their Airframe and Powerplant program
- Students selected will be monitored throughout the rest of their AMT Program
- Students must complete a mentorship checklist
- Guaranteed interview conducted in last term of school
- Tuition reimbursement to complete A&P certification
- Relocation assistance offered
- Up to $15k in bonuses towards tuition
Selection process
1. Students who complete the FAA General curriculum will be eligible for selection into the EAGLE Program.
2. Students must complete the AAR EAGLE application.
3. Students awarded into the program will be monitored throughout Airframe and Powerplant portions of their program.
4. AAR Mentors will be assigned to join you on your journey and provide opportunities to enhance your aviation experience while still in school.
5. Students will be subject to criminal background check and drug test.
EAGLE Pathway Resources
Ryan Goertzen
VP Maintenance Workforce Development
By the numbers
AAR is making a direct impact on building the talent pipeline for aviation mechanics.
7
EAGLE Pathway schools
4
Sheet metal programs
6
Skillbridge programs
156
U.S. students enrolled in Skillbridge programs
Pathways
There are many different ways you can become an aviation maintenance technician through the EAGLE Program. Explore the different pathways below.
Embry-Riddle Skillbridge program
The Aviation Maintenance Skillbridge course is an intensive nine-week program that trains transitioning military, veterans and eligible military spouses in aviation maintenance and connects them to aerospace industry partners, including AAR, who can offer them lucrative and exciting careers.
High school programs
We have specific programs for high school students in Indianapolis and Chicago and partner closely with Choose Aerospace.
VIPER Transitions
VIPER’s Mission is to end veteran suicide through the elimination of its main causes: veteran unemployment, underemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, and a fractured support system. We work to accomplish our mission through pre-employment training, resource networking, outreach, and the inclusion of military spouses in our programs.
A newly developed twelve-week program based upon the FAA general curriculum is slated to launch its first cohort of students in August in partnership with the Aircraft Maintenance Fraternal Association (AMFA), Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) and AAR as the primary hiring partner.
AAR Fellowship Programs
The AAR EAGLE Fellowship Program is the latest addition to our existing EAGLE Career Pathway Program to help grow the aviation technician pipeline. As an EAGLE Fellow students will receive tuition assistance up to $15,000 and have the ability to work at our Rockford MRO or Indianapolis MRO facility while completing their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) program at Rock Valley College or Vincennes University. Upon graduation AAR will provide financial assistance to ensure that each fellow receives their A&P certification. AAR Fellows must agree to work for AAR a minimum of two years. 2021 applications are now closed.
By 2022, demand will outpace supply of aviation maintenance technicians.
Source: 2019 Oliver Wyman
739,000 technicians are needed globally with 192,000 in North America.
Source: 2020 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook
Explore EAGLE partners around the U.S. by clicking on the region and then state to reveal specific contact information.
AIM
80 Moonachie Avenue, Teterboro, NJ 07608
Telephone: 201-288-6300
Fax: 201-288-5609
Learn more
AIM
3001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
Telephone: 215-676-7700
Fax: 215-676-0566
Learn more
AERONAUTICAL REPAIR STATION ASSOCIATION
121 North Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2903
Learn more
AIM
2329 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, VA 23518
Telephone: 757-363-2121
Fax: 757-363-2044
Learn more
AIM
10640 Davidson Place, Manassas, VA 20109
Telephone: 703-257-5515
Fax: 703-257-5523
Learn more
AIM
2725 South U.S. Highway 17/92, Casselberry FL 32707
Telephone: 407-896-2800
Fax: 407-965-6155
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
6801 Roosevelt Blvd., Building 110, 2nd Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32212
Telephone: 904-779-0246
Fax: 904-779-2344
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
221 Lukasik Ave., Building 90220, Hurlburt Field, FL 32544
Telephone: 850-581-2106
Fax: 850-581-7422
Learn more
AIM
2025 Satellite Pointe Duluth, GA 30096
Telephone: 678-377-5600
Fax: 678-377-5609
Learn more
AIM
7421 East Independence Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28227
Telephone: 980-785-0700
Fax: 980-785-0701
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
Camp Lejeune Education Center; 825 Stone Street; Camp Lejeune, NC 28547
Telephone: 910-451-0174
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
4520 Knox Street, Suite G120, Fort Bragg, NC 28307
Telephone: 910-339-1567
Fax: 910-339-1567
Learn more
AERO STAR AVION INSTITUTE
5225 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL, 60615
Telephone: 312-883-6383
Learn more
OLIVE-HARVEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, 60628
Telephone: 773-COLLEGE
Learn more
ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS
One Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 300, Westchester, IL 60154
Telephone: 800-538-6227
Learn more
PERSPECTIVES CHARTER SCHOOL
1530 South State Street – 2nd Fl., Chicago, IL 60605
Telephone: 312-604-2200
Fax: 312-604-2199
Learn more
ROCK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Aviation Career Education Center, 6045 Cessna Drive, Rockford, IL 61109
Telephone: 815-921-3020
Learn more
AIM
7251 West McCarty Street, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Telephone: 317-243-4519
Fax: 317-243-4569
Learn more
LUMINA FOUNDATION
30 S. Meridian St., Suite 700, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Telephone: 800-834-5756
Learn more
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY
2175 S Hoffman Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Telephone: 317-381-6000
Learn more
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY TECH
4004 N. Webb Road, Wichita, KS 67226
Telephone: 316-677-9400
Learn more
CORPORATION FOR SKILLED WORKFORCE
1100 Victors Way, Suite 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Telephone: 734-769-2900
Fax: 734-769-2950
Learn more
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Western Michigan University, 237 North Helmer Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037-7917
Telephone: 269-964-6375
Fax: 269-964-6473
Learn more
LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE
2101 Trinity Road, Duluth, MN 55811
Telephone: 218-733-7600
Learn more
AIM
4100 Raytown Road, Kansas City, MO 64129
Telephone: 816-753-9920
Fax: 816-753-9941
Read more
WOMEN IN AVIATION INTERNATIONAL
1864 Dayton Germantown Pike, Unit 4, Germantown, OH 45327-1100
Telephone: 937-839-4647
Learn more
AVIATION TECHNICIAN EDUCATION COUNCIL
P.O. Box 234, Jenks, OK 74037
Telephone: 703-548-2030
Learn more
AIM
400 E Airport Freeway, Irving, TX 75062
Telephone: 214-333-9711
Fax: 214-333-9185
Learn more
AIM
7651 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061
Telephone: 713-644-7777
Fax: 713-644-0902
Learn more
VIPER TRANSITIONS
Alaska, U.S.
Lean more
AIM
420 Whitney Place, Fremont, CA 94539
Telephone: 510-553-9600
Fax: 510-553-9601
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd., Suite 200, Oceanside, CA 92056
Telephone: 760-385-4423 / 760-385-0152
Fax: 760-385-4395
Learn more
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
1675 Long Street, Building 1117, Room 110, Fort Carson, CO 80913
Telephone: 719-576-6858
Fax: 719-540-5680
Learn more
AIM
5870 South Eastern Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89119
Telephone: 702-798-5511
Fax: 702-798-5627
Learn more
