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Auburn University is entering into an agreement with Southern Union State Community College to construct a hangar to be used in its new Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) School. A key component of the agreement is establishing a partnership with the university’s School of Aviation in hopes of helping solve the industry’s aviation mechanic shortage problem.

The new facility will be constructed close to the Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building and School of Aviation’s maintenance hangar at Auburn University Regional Airport. The aviation industry is experiencing shortages in several sectors, including maintenance staff, and the addition of this facility will help produce qualified aircraft maintenance personnel crucial to an industry still recovering from pandemic-related shortages.

According to Boeing, the industry will need to recruit, train and hire more than 600,000 new maintenance technicians during a 20-year period that ends in 2041.

“This partnership is a great addition for our aviation program and the airport,” Auburn School of Aviation Director James Witte said. “Our students and those from Southern Union will be able to use this new facility to learn skills that can propel them to long and successful careers in aviation, and this agreement will help Auburn continue to produce exceptional graduates who can make an impact in the industry for generations to come.”

In 2023, Southern Union State Community College — which has campuses in Opelika, Valley and Wadley — used Auburn University support to start an Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program. Propelled by state funding from Rep. Joe Lovvorn and other legislators, the program will establish an aircraft mechanic school and has been approved by the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees.

The AMT program is reportedly full and has a waiting list of students eager to become involved. Auburn’s School of Aviation and SUSCC also have plans for a separate agreement that will outline logistics, storage and servicing for the aircraft in use with the program.

“The pool of experienced aviation technicians and mechanics has dwindled, creating a severe deficit in the field,” said Todd Shackett, SUSCC president. “We are excited about the opportunity to address a real need in the workforce that this partnership brings.”

The addition of the facility will continue to expand the aviation campus that is developing at the Auburn-based airport.

“This is a very exciting program that will benefit the students of Auburn and Southern Union, as well as the community and state, as these students seek employment after graduation,” said Bill Hutto, executive director of Auburn University Regional Airport. “Southern Union’s graduates that work for Auburn have the opportunity to take advantage of Auburn’s tuition benefit program to earn a four-year degree while working full-time. This is a win-win for everyone involved, and the hangar will be a great addition to the airport’s facilities.”

This agreement also further deepens the School of Aviation’s impact on the airline industry. Thanks to agreements with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as a strong fleet of planes and instructors, Auburn’s aviation program has grown to more than 800 undergraduate students in recent years. Graduates have experienced a nearly 100% job placement rate after completing their training on the Plains.

“The addition of a new hangar is the latest of many expansions in Auburn’s award-winning aviation program,” said Jason Hicks, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “Our partnership with Southern Union will offer unparalleled opportunities in aviation training and innovation while developing solutions to industry challenges.”