Page 25 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 Online Magazine

ADDRESSING
Eshortage of qualified aviation main-
are in growth mode,” says Edward Gray, General Manager and
Chief of Operations at the Central Florida based MRO company.
“Since we are doing the A-321 conversion, we are focused on
doing other conversions as well. We hope to expand our second
facility in the future; in the process of taking the overflow and
moving it to Lakeland, we got new customers. We have the same
certifications there as we have in Sanford.”
At the new 26,000 sq. ft. maintenance facility, the company
offers paint and aircraft refinishing services, besides all other
services that it provides at the Orlando-Sanford facility. “We
ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE
A GLOBAL NEED
ven as it looks to capitalize on new
opportunities, the company has also
been working on addressing the
tenance technicians. Avocet’s “Stand up for
STEM” initiative includes an 18-week intern-
ship initiative with Embry Riddle Aeronautical
University as well as a three-year appren-
ticeship program in partnership with the
Florida Department of Labor. A long-term
goal is the setting up of an on-site STEM-
focused school, workshop and training area
at the Orlando-Sanford International Airport.
“Everybody knows there is a shortage of
qualified AMTs, and we want to help fix the
problem,” says Gray. “The apprenticeship
program helps the local community. There
are many youngsters who aren’t going to col-
lege but would like to learn a good living; we
take them in and teach them on the airplane
for 36 months. We give them two or three
general familiarization courses. When they
leave, they have their AMT certificate as well
as the general familiarization courses.”
Gray is aware that students who go through
the internship and apprenticeship programs
might end up seeking a job elsewhere. “All the
airlines look to the MROs to take the good
people and we already know that. We are
therefore looking for a good partner that we
can guide the people towards. We are cur-
rently in discussions with a couple of different
airlines.” Flexibility and the ability to capitalize
on opportunities are important for growth,
says Gray. “We do not want to grow fast and
then not have any work. If you over extend
yourself, you get yourself into trouble. We are
very calculated when we do grow; we grow
for a reason. That is what makes us different
from a lot of the other companies.”
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