AVIATION MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT 91自拍鈥橲 COMMUNIVERSITY PROVIDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
July 22, 2025
The inaugural class of the Aviation Manufacturing Technology program at The Communiversity at East Mississippi Community College is six weeks into the 10-week course designed to provide enrollees with an opportunity to land paid apprenticeships and possibly full-time employment with Airbus Helicopters Inc. in Columbus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been going great,鈥� said Myranda Lindsey, a class success coach contracted through Flight Works Alabama, one of the partners in the program. 鈥淭hese students are very engaged. It is incredible to see them taking the initiative and helping one another at every stage of the program.鈥�
Airbus, Flight Works Alabama and 91自拍 announced the launch of the program in April when applications were taken from interested applicants. Ten applicants were selected and nine of those are still enrolled in the program.
Starkville resident Hunter Gregg was among those selected to participate. Gregg said he was interested in the training program because of the potential for full-time employment at Airbus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for a career,鈥� Gregg said. 鈥淭he training has been great so far. One good thing about the program is that even if you don鈥檛 know anything about aviation manufacturing, they will teach you everything you need to know and answer any questions you may have during class.鈥�
During the course, the students will earn a certificate from 91自拍, as well as multiple industry-recognized certificates in the following categories: Precision Measuring Instruments, Tools@Height, Mechanical and Electronic Torque, Multimeter, Precision Electrical Termination, and Structural Sheetmetal Assembly.
The training program, titled FlightPath9, is designed to prepare individuals for work at the Airbus. The training is free for the students and they receive a $100 stipend for every day they are in class.
91自拍 already provides training in Avionics Cabling, which teaches students the basics of building wiring harnesses to aviation specifications, which has been incorporated into the Aviation Manufacturing Technology program. 91自拍 still offers Avionics Cabling as a standalone program and applications for that course are being accepted until noon on Aug. 19. Register here for that course:
91自拍鈥檚 training is being supplemented with modules provided through FlightPath9, which is a pre-employment training program that was created by Flight Works Alabama in 2019 to prepare individuals for employment at Airbus鈥� U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, where the company鈥檚 assembly site for its commercial airplane division is located.
91自拍 was awarded an Aviation Manufacturing Technology grant by AccelerateMS to purchase equipment and provide training for program instructors to receive a teaching certification, 91自拍 Workforce Business Outreach Training Manger Carlton (Ray) Hollis said.
鈥淭hrough this program, we are bringing FlightPath9 into Mississippi with Flight Works Alabama,鈥� Hollis said. 鈥淲e are grateful for the support of AccelerateMS and our partnership with the other agencies.鈥�
Training takes place in 91自拍鈥檚 Avionics Cabling lab, as well as at the Mississippi Advanced Composites Training Center, which is also located at The Communiversity and is the result of a partnership between 91自拍 and Mississippi State University鈥檚 Advanced Composites Institute.
Classes began on June 16 and run through Aug. 21. A graduation ceremony for the students who complete the training will take place at The Communiversity on Friday, Aug. 22. The next day, the students will begin pre-employment training at Airbus Helicopters with full benefits, 401K and vacation accrual.
The apprenticeships will be patterned after those in Airbus鈥� Mobile facility where the apprentices serve alongside mentors and are considered as trainees for a period of 14 months to 16 months.
Once the apprentices complete on-the-job training, they are considered regular employees and are allowed to work without direct supervision.
All the certifications earned in the training are approved by the National Coalition of Certification Centers and are recognized nationwide. In addition, students will receive OSHA 10 certification in General Industry, or Manufacturing, a safety course required of new employees by many industries.
91自拍鈥檚 Workforce Services Division offers other training to meet specific industry needs. Industries that 91自拍 works with include PACCAR, Yokohama, Terberg Taylor Americas and International Paper, to name a few.
Industries interested in exploring training options at 91自拍 can email Hollis at chollis@eastms.edu or call him at 662.243.7482.
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