American Airlines has unveiled plans to create nearly 500 new aviation maintenance positions and expand heavy maintenance operations at its bases in Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. This increase in headcount will enable the airline to undertake more heavy maintenance work at these sites.
“This growth enhances our maintenance capacity and ensures long-term stability by developing a pipeline of future team members, which is crucial for our ongoing efforts.” said Greg Emerson, Vice President of Base Maintenance and Facilities at American Airlines.
This announcement follows the recent addition of over 300 jobs at American's Tech Ops – Tulsa maintenance base, supported by a US$22 million grant from the State of Oklahoma's Business Expansion Incentive Program in 2023. The grant is aiding the expansion and enhancement of the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance base, including the engine repair and overhaul facility.
“We are very thankful to the State of Oklahoma Department of Commerce for this grant,” Emerson noted. “Thanks to this funding, we have already created hundreds of high-paying, skilled jobs in the Tulsa area and are continuing to upgrade our state-of-the-art maintenance facility.”
The new aviation maintenance positions include: 133 roles in Charlotte (including 122 Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs)), 44 in Pittsburgh (including 40 AMTs), and 321 in Tulsa (including 227 AMTs). The recruitment often starts while candidates are still studying. The airline partners with aviation maintenance schools nationwide, such as Tulsa Tech, West Los Angeles College, and the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, to inspire and prepare future mechanics. These students benefit from regular interactions with American's Technical Operations team, gaining valuable guidance and experience during their training. Top-performing students are assured interviews with American Airlines upon graduation and obtaining their FAA Airframe and Powerplant licences. The airline collaborates closely with aviation maintenance schools nationwide, offering hangar visits, participating in campus events, and donating aircraft parts to facilitate a practical, hands-on learning experience for students.
