The first class of ex-coal miners graduated from the Aircraft Structures Training Programme at Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia last month.
They completed an eight-week training programme designed to teach the skills needed for entry-level employment in the aerospace industry. Thomas Stose, director and senior professor at the college, said: “It’s a perfect opportunity for coal miners who’ve been laid off from their jobs.”
All the graduates received funding for the programme, said Mr Stose; some got United Mine Workers of America scholarships, others received Workforce West Virginia grants, and others received funding from Pierpont Community & Technical College itself.
Programme instructor Rich Goff said: “We take folks who have never worked on an airplane and give them what they need to get into an introductory position in aviation. Coal miners are great because they have hand-tool experience, and they are used to arriving at the workplace ready to go into action. These guys were in a rough spot; they now have FAA licenses to work anywhere in the country.”
Graduate Aaron Toler said: “I wanted something more stable than the coal mines. I was always worried I’d get laid off — and then it happened. I like working with aircraft at Bombardier better than working in the coal mines, because I’m not between two rocks all day long, and I don’t have to wear heavy gear or work in mud. With this career, the more experience you get, the more you can move up. That wasn’t true in the coal mines; there was no advancement.”