My last day south brought me to Columbus, MS. This is home to American Eurocopter. The majority of all medical helicopters come from this company and they are moving into into military helicopters (thanks to the Lakota and Dolphin) more and more. The facility is one of the finest I have seen: clean and orderly. The company, a subsidiary of EADS (like Airbus) takes care of its employees and is looking to expand beyond the buildings they have now. See below for application instructions.

Also in Columbus are Aurora Flight Sciences and Stark Aerospace. Both of these companies deal in the science and flight of unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft keep a vigilant watch over the land they observe, while keeping a pilot out of harm’s way. Both companies are hiring as well. Read the descriptions carefully as each requests different requirements.

All in all, it was a good (albeit tiring) trip. Companies down south are hiring and we have able students and alumni ready to relocate. If you have any questions about these companies, or would like to apply, feel free to contact me.

American Eurocopter:
Aurora Flight Sciences:
Stark Aerospace:

After surviving some terrible storms, Mobile is alive and well. 78 degrees and the sun is shining.

Mobile Aerospace (now ST Aerospace Mobile) was my first stop. This MRO facility is a huge and busy place. Fedex is its biggest customer and many A&Ps get their start into Fedex here. Right now, Fedex is buying 757s from airlines and converting them into freighters. Much of that work is happening here. Although the economy has been shaky this past year, ST Aerospace has had no layoffs. The work keeps flying in for this company and they are worth a look.

Teledyne Continental, one of the most popular aircraft engine makers, is right next store! Continental’s facility is compact, but busy. This company has a long history in the piston engine business and continues to be successful in their endeavors.

Although neither company is hiring at this moment, please check out their websites for employment information!
ST Aerospace Mobile:
Teledyne Continental:

I started in Columbus but had to head to Atlanta early. Due to the Martin Luther King holiday, my appointment with Delta Tech Ops had to be rescheduled.

The Delta facility is huge, encompassing four huge hangars (one of them a world record holder), countless shops, and in the care of at least 30 aircraft. It is easy to forget just how massive these jets can get– walking under a 767 in the paint booth was quite an experience. My tour took me to the electronics department where I got to catch up with some of our AET alumni. Almost all maintenance, from oxygen bottles to TCAS, are maintained on site. Delta is happy with the students and alumni they have hired and are looking forward to doing more of it, especially when the Northwest Airlines sale is completely ironed out.

Trivia Question: What does the V in Pratt and Whitney’s V2500 jet engine stand for? (First one to accurately answer this in the comment section below will get a PIA T-Shirt)

I met with the good folks at Pratt and Whitney in Columbus and got a wonderful tour of the facility. This location will soon be home to a new line of engines as work moves south from Connecticut. V2500 are stripped, fixed, overhauled, and put back together here by A&P technicians, even some who graduated from PIA! New hires come and in and learn the job from day one. If a NDT inspector is needed, an A&P is trained in that field. If a CNC machinist is needed, an A&P learns it. This is on top of UTC’s impressive continuing education benefit (100% tuition paid). Watch their website (below) for openings. There will be opportunities posted soon.

From Columbus, GA, I head down to Mobile, AL.

Monitor both of these sites for opportunities:
Delta TechOps:
Pratt & Whitney: