Partnership Boosts Student Aviation Maintenance Careers

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) students at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College are preparing for takeoff in their aviation maintenance careers thanks to a new partnership with American Airlines. With the partnership, students will enjoy ongoing engagement opportunities with Technical Operations team members at American’s Miami (MIA) hub and on campus. Additionally, students at the top of their class will be guaranteed interviews for open positions upon graduation and receipt of their FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate.

The announcement formalizes a long-standing relationship between the airline and M-DCPS that’s been developing the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) for years. American also donated a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft to Baker Aviation in 2010, and students continue to use the historic aircraft for training. The airline’s MIA-based Technical Operations team mentored the school’s student team in the 2024 Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition, where they placed first in two events and finished second in the School category.

Dating back to 1939, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College is a public institution operated by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and the National Center for Aircraft Technician Training (NCATT) and is certificated by the FAA. Approximately 1,000 M-DCPS high school and adult students are currently studying aviation-related coursework at Baker. The school is one of two in Florida to be accredited by the NCATT and the only school in the country to offer NCATT accredited courses to high school students.

In addition to M-DCPS’ George T. Baker Technical College, American’s Technical Operations team has partnerships with Aviation Institute of Maintenance — Chicago, Tulsa Tech in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and West Los Angeles College in Los Angeles. The partnerships ensure tomorrow’s AMTs receive relevant, real-world training today and are set up for success in aviation maintenance careers.