MD-80 Donation Helps Future Maintenance Technicians
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American Airlines recently donated two MD-80 aircraft — one to Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, and a second to CareerTech in Oklahoma City — to help inspire and educate future aviation professionals, and the donation is already helping future maintenance technicians.
Lewis University hosted a dedication ceremony for their newMD-80, which included students, elected officials and leaders from bothAmerican and Lewis. The MD-80 donation will help build future opportunities forstudents close to American’s Chicago hub.
“In Chicago, we have nearly 550 aviation maintenancetechnicians whose work allows our airplanes to fly safely each day, and Isalute the professional work they do behind the scenes to take care of ourcustomers,” said Franco Tedeschi, American Airlines Vice President – Chicago.“This donation means that we will uphold our commitment to strengthen thepartnership we have with Lewis University and be a path to the next opportunityfor students.”
“The skills and training that myself and fellow classmateshave obtained here is something that we’ll never take for granted,” said AmandaColón, an aviation and aerospace technology student at Lewis. “We are sohonored to have been given the privilege and experience to work in and aroundthis aircraft in the pursuit of further advancing our knowledge and skill set.”
In total, American donated eight MD-80s. Four of thoseplanes found homes in Oklahoma, where the aerospace industry is rapidlygrowing. American operates the world’s largest commercial aviation maintenancebase in Tulsa and is committed to working with local schools and organizationson STEM education to help the future workforce succeed. CareerTech also held aceremony with American team members when its MD-80 — which the studentsnicknamed Zelda — was delivered last month.
“The future is bright for American in Oklahoma. And toensure we can continue to meet demand, we have to invest in the future of ourworkforce, which includes building a pipeline for skilled, trained mechanics,”said Erik Olund, Managing Director of Base Maintenance for American. “Donatingthis MD-80 for hands-on experience and training is one of the best ways we cando that.”
