Building a talent pipeline for the future: Nearly 100 aircraft maintenance students placed in Piedmont’s Tuition Payment Program

In August 2021, Piedmont launched a first-of-its-kind Tuition Payment Program (TPP) to provide an opportunity for future aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) to attend a maintenance partner school tuition-free while guaranteeing students a job with Piedmont upon receiving their airframe and powerplant certifications. Two years later, Piedmont has successfully placed 96 students in the program with all 32 program graduates joining Piedmont as AMTs at maintenance locations across the system.

“The success of the program is nothing short of amazing,” shares Jessica Weney, Senior Piedmont Recruiter. “Watching these aircraft mechanics grow in school and in the hangar speaks volumes to the support Piedmont gives and the dedication each one of them have to their careers and their future. I’m proud of how this program has grown in two years.”

Quinn Trautman, one of the first TPP graduates and Lead AMT at Piedmont’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania maintenance base says he wouldn’t have been able to attend school if it wasn’t for the TPP program. Quinn earned his airframe and powerplant certifications and began working full-time for Piedmont as an AMT in August 2022. “The recruiters and base managers were extremely helpful and supportive throughout the program which made the transition from school to a full-time career very easy. It makes me proud to be a Piedmont employee and want to invest in the company because Piedmont invested in me.”

Piedmont is committed to growing the next generation of aviation mechanics and a program like the TPP is vital as a pipeline to ensure we have mechanics to maintain Piedmont’s growing fleet. In addition to the 32 AMTs that have graduated from the program, Piedmont plans to hire 18 additional TPP graduates through 2023 and 39 in 2024.

“We’ve seen this program change lives,” shares Jessica proudly. “From students right out of high school to those seeking a change in career later in life, a tuition-free education with a guaranteed job at Piedmont provides a fantastic opportunity. We are looking forward to seeing the program grow in the future as Piedmont continues to grow their fleet.”

Interested in learning more about a career as an AMT and the Tuition Payment Program? Click here.