EOCC aviation campus keeps industry primed for growth

OZARK — The aircraft industry in Alabama is a bright spot in a down economy, offering good-paying jobs to Wiregrass residents. Enterprise-Ozark Community College’s aviation campus is helping lead the way in helping this industry continue to grow by providing a well-trained work force.

Gov. Bob Riley visited the campus on Tuesday, touring the facility and talking to faculty and staff. Riley has been supportive of EOCC’s aviation campus, helping to secure millions in funding for the college to buy up-to-date training equipment earlier in his tenure as governor. Riley said Tuesday that EOCC’s training of aviation workers helps provide the existing aerospace industry with skilled labor and helps attract additional business to the state by demonstrating that Alabama has the commitment and work force to meet their needs.

John Hamlin, Army Fleet Support general manager, said his company employs about 3,800 people in the Wiregrass and he expects the company will employ an additional 200 by next year.

“We are hiring every mechanic we can get out of this school and we’re looking for more,” he said.

At EOCC’s aviation campus, students learn about aviation theory in the classroom and apply what they learn there in lab classes. Students can take courses in airframe technology, powerplant technology and avionics technology. Students graduating from the school can expect to earn $21 to $25 per hour in entry level jobs in the aerospace industry.

Riley said the aerospace industry and the educational opportunities provided by EOCC and other community colleges with similar programs throughout the state are providing life-changing career opportunities to residents of poor rural areas in Alabama.

More than 300 aerospace companies are located in Alabama, providing about 140,000 jobs. Riley said one of the benefits of the industry is any community with a landing strip and a hangar has the opportunity to snag an aerospace company. This means that even rural communities with little other economic opportunities have the chance to improve their lot by getting an aerospace company to locate in their area.