Clearwater aviation school helps transition veterans into civilian work
CLEARWATER, Fla — According to the U.S. Department of Labor, every year around 200,000 servicemen leave the U.S. Armed Forces and return to civilian life.
What You Need To Know
- Experts say aviation maintenance workers are in high demand
- T. Black Aviation in Clearwater is training veterans who already have experience to fulfill that gap
- Officials say these are skills that many veterans already have, but most aren’t licensed for civilian work
The military skills of these men and women are in high demand, especially in the fields of aviation in national security. Experts say aviation maintenance workers are in high demand because of a shortage.
T. Black Aviation is training veterans who already have experience to become certified to fulfill that gap.
“People get out of the military and they don't know how to transition,” said founder Thomas Black.
While still in the service 30 years ago, Black said he founded T. Black Aviation to offers services like pilot and maintenance instruction.
“The people will be working on anything from the corporate jets to even the airlines,” he said.
He says these are skills that many veterans already have, but most aren’t licensed for civilian work.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also doesn’t require pilots and mechanics in the Armed Forces to have licenses and certifications.
“These guys are going to be retiring soon or getting out of the Military, and in order to work on aircraft in the civilian world you have to have the actual AMP (Aviation Maintenance Professional) certification,” Black said.
Because of the demand in this field, Black said having that AMP certification increases the earning power for veterans.
According to Salary.com, the average salary in the field of aviation maintenance is $89,822, and the average airline pilot salary in Florida is $164,901.
Ben Norton is one of the students enrolled in a two week course at T. Black Aviation.
“I joined the Air Force in 2002,” he said. “I’ve been in just over 20 years.”
Norton spent a decade of his career working on Air Force One and is now stationed at MacDill Air Force base.
He said right now he's thinking about what he will do after retiring from the military.
“I’m looking at being the director of maintenance somewhere" he said. "Anywhere aviation."
To be certified and qualify for such roles, Black said students are required to pass three tests.
“Every three days they are taking a written exam," Black said. "That's what we are doing, we are prepping them for it."
Black said the training also prepares his students for the cultural and communication differences in civilian careers.
“It's a very rewarding job — it's not really a job,” he said.
After decades of military service, Black said he retired and found another sense of purpose: helping his fellow veterans find another path to continue serving their communities.
He said most veterans can use their education benefits to pay for the FAA certification course.
If they meet certain requirements, several airline companies are also willing to pay for the class.