Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu CC initiate Aviation Tech Development Program

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

Honolulu CC AERO program

Honolulu CC AERO program

Honolulu CC AERO program

Honolulu CC AERO program

Neil Patrick Nuevo, Honolulu CC AERO student

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/rzH

Hawaiian Airlines and Honolulu Community College are expanding their workforce development partnership by launching the Maintenance Technician Development Program (MTDP), a new initiative to train the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians. The program, which starts accepting applications on September 3,  provides significant financial and professional support for selected students enrolled in Honolulu CC's Aeronautics Maintenance Technology Program (AERO).

Aspiring aircraft technicians who apply and are selected to enroll in the MTDP will receive a $10,500 stipend and up to $1,800 reimbursement for airframe and powerplant certificate exam fees. Students will also gain valuable mentorship from experienced Hawaiian Airlines mechanics who will provide guidance and support. MTDP graduates will be given a contingent job offer with Hawaiian Airlines, securing a clear path to employment.

“We are excited to create more local jobs to support our growing operations across Hawai‘i and beyond as we expand our global reach with Alaska Airlines,” said Beau Tatsumura, Hawaiʻi managing director of international and heavy maintenance at Hawaiian and Alaska airlines.“We are grateful to build on our longstanding partnership with Honolulu Community College to support Hawai‘i students interested in becoming aviation maintenance technicians and considering a career with Hawaiian Airlines right here in the islands.”

Ensuring a highly skilled workforce

The launch of MTDP underscores Hawaiian Airlines and Honolulu CC's shared commitment to developing local talent and ensuring a highly skilled workforce for the future of aviation in Hawaiʻi. This new program is the latest collaboration between the two organizations. 

In 2016, Hawaiian Airlines and Honolulu CC developed the Aircraft Mechanic Apprenticeship Program (AMAP), where students take classes at Honolulu CC during the day and work part-time at Hawaiian Airlines' maintenance hangar, gaining hands-on experience and getting paid to perform maintenance and repairs. Hawaiian employs some 570 mechanics today, including more than 50 AMAP graduates.

Students are welcome to apply for both the MTDP and AMAP programs, but they will need to choose one to participate in, if selected. More information is available by emailing  careers.ha@hawaiianair.com.

“Through this partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, we are providing our students with an unparalleled pathway to a rewarding career, ensuring our graduates are not only highly trained but also have a direct route to becoming the next generation of aviation professionals serving our local communities and beyond,” said Karen C. Lee, chancellor at Honolulu CC.

Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. projects a need for 416,000 new aviation maintenance technicians globally over the next decade (by 2034).

VIDEO: TRT 2:12

BROLL:

:00-:19 MTDP launch event with Honolulu CC AERO students

:20-1:10 File of AERO students at the Honolulu CC training facility on Lagoon Drive.

SOUND:

Diego Serrano, Honolulu CC AERO student [:09]

“When I saw this opportunity come up, I was like, this could really help me a lot and I could really use this and it can really benefit me greatly.”

Neil Patrick Nuevo, Honolulu CC AERO student [:13]

“I work two jobs and go to school at the same time so it'll be really helpful, just so I don't have to worry much about working the other jobs and just more focused on the school.”

Joe Sprague, Hawaiian Airlines CEO [:16]

“The need is significant now in part in our case, because Hawaiian Airlines is growing and and in our combination with Alaska Airlines, we're adding a number of new aircraft maintenance technician positions in Honolulu and throughout our system, but there are also many retirements happening.”

Karen C. Lee, Honolulu CC Chancellor [:15]

“Hawaiian Airlines has been such a great partner to us and our AERO maintenance program. And the fact that they've come to us and they said that they're going to provide this scholarship and work opportunity—we are very grateful to them for this.”