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A high-quality, skilled and productive workforce is a hallmark of Oklahoma. Traditional values of hard work, reliability and cooperation run deep throughout the state. Oklahoma's aerospace industry already employs some 143,000 with a payroll of $4.7 billion. Aerospace output exceeds $11.7 billion annually. With a talented existing aerospace workforce that is growing everyday thanks to Oklahoma's top ranked training programs and educational institutions, the aerospace industry is assured a pipeline of proficient labor for years to come.
Skill Sets
Oklahoma already possesses workers equipped with the range of skills needed to make any aviation or aerospace operation a success. The state's labor force includes aerospace engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, aircraft mechanics, welders and technicians. Growing numbers of students are being educated for careers in the aerospace industry in Oklahoma's schools and training programs.
Training and Education
Oklahoma excels at training for aviation/aerospace workers and each year is producing growing numbers of qualified recruits. Oklahoma's Aviation and Education Alliance (OAEA) is a collaborative effort between technology centers, community colleges, and colleges and universities that help build a capable aerospace workforce. Just a few of the OAEA partners include: American Airlines, Boeing Defense and Space Group, FlightSafety International, Nordam Group, Pratt-Whitney, Tinker AFB, Altus AFB, Lear Bombardier and Bizjet International.
The state's nationally acclaimed Training for Industry Program (TIP) helps aerospace companies by creating a customized workforce that is ready for operations from opening day. TIP is free and delivered through Oklahoma's CareerTech system with 54 state-of-the-art technology centers from across the state. The technology centers also provide ongoing, customized training for existing employees at significant cost savings.
Programs at Oklahoma's technology centers, colleges and universities offer training, certificates and degrees in all the necessary specialties including:
- Air Frame and Power Plant Technicians
- Nondestructive Testing
- Transport Aircraft Training
- Flight Simulator Maintenance Technician
- Avionics
- Piloting
- Aviation Management
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Aviation Sciences.
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"There are many reasons why Oklahoma is at the forefront when it comes to aerospace and its workforce. One of those is Oklahoma's Aviation and Aerospace Education Alliance, a collaborative effort between technology centers and our colleges and universities. American Airlines maintains an active dialogue with these entities to ensure our workers have the latest technological skills that the industry requires. Oklahoma goes out of its way to set us up for success."
-Carmine Romano, Vice President, American Airlines. |
The Center for Aircraft and Systems/Support Infrastructure (CASI) is a coordinating point for the services Oklahoma Higher Education provides to the aerospace industry. CASI supports the aerospace community across a broad range of capabilities, including structural/materials, avionics/e.ectronics/software, information technology, environmental and production. In recent years, CASI has performed more than 100 projects, primarily for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and the Federal Administration. This consortium includes all institutions in the state system and is led by the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa.
Founded in 1928 by W.G. Skelly, president of Skelly Oil Company, the Spartan School of Aeronautics and Technology is a 75-year-old institution with more than 80,000 graduates, 300 employees, and nearly 1,700 active students. Spartan is one of the nation's leading providers of aviation education and training. The school offers the broadest spectrum of aviation-related programs, including:
- Professional Pilot Training
- Aviation Maintenance Technical Program
- Aviatiopn Elecgtronics Technical Program
- Aviation Instruments Technical Program
- Communication Technical Programs
- Nondestructive Testing/Quality Control Program
- English as a Second Language
- Associate's and Bachelor's of Science Degree Programs.
Located in Tulsa, Spartan maintains a fleet of more than 50 aircraft and has trained students from more than 37 different countries. It currently is under contract with the federal government to train Coast Guard officers in the Aviation Maintenance field and is training more than 100 pilots from the government of China and their regional carriers.
For more information, call the Student Information Hotline at 800-858-1840 or contact Hugh McCrabb, State Regents, Director of Technical Occupational Activity.
Labor and Productivity
With more than 143,000 jobs supported directly or indirectly by aviation/aerospace and more workers in the pipeline, there is plenty of labor to support growth in this industry. Not only that, Oklahoma's workers are rated among the most productive in the country, impressing their employers time and again with their work ethic, loyalty and willingness to work overtime.
Workforce Availability
With education and training programs and other resources geared toward meeting the needs the aviation/aerospace industry, companies will find that their workforce needs will met wherever they choose to locate in Oklahoma.
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"Attracting skilled labor has never been an issue with Boeing's operations in Oklahoma. Throughout our 40-plus years in Tulsa, we've been able to hire thousands of hard working, highly skilled and dedicated workers, the backbone of what we do and how we do it. In fact, our Oklahoma operations rank among the top of all Boeing facilities in productivity and cost-competitiveness."
-Steve Hendrickson, Director of Strategic Planning, Boeing Tulsa. |
Oklahoma Weather
Oklahoma may indeed be a state where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, but more often than not, that wind brings with it superb weather that is advantageous to the aviation/aerospace industry. The state basks under more than 300 days of sunshine a year and aviators enjoy 363 flying days each year, 332 of them visual flying rules days. Winters are mild and the average high temperature is a pleasant 71 degrees. The average annual temperature is 61 degrees.
According to the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing, the state's weather does not make a major impact on production or cause work stoppages, even during rare periods of extreme hot or cold temperatures.
While other parts of the country experience extreme weather such as hurricanes and flooding or natural phenomena like earthquakes that can damage assets or slow production, Oklahoma's position in the south-central United States makes it comparatively comfortable and safe.
Although tornados do occur in Oklahoma, the chances for a significant tornado (F2+) hitting a given point anywhere in the state is extremely rare. In the 75-year history of Tulsa International Airport, for example, it has never been hit by a tornado. The Air Force also has placed many high value assets throughout bases in Oklahoma and they have not reported damage due to severe weather.
Keeping watch on all of Oklahoma's weather are among the best enhanced early warning systems and next generation Doppler radar systems in the world. Overall, the forecast for aviation/aerospace in Oklahoma is bright, indeed.
In fact, Weathernews Americas aviation service delivers around-the-clock risk communications and decision support services to the company's commercial airline partners including American Airlines and its 3,900 daily flights--all from Norman, Oklahoma.
Contact:
Charles Kimbrough
405-815-5361
800-879-6552
