American Airlines Funds $25,000 in AIM Charlotte Aviation Scholarships

American Airlines is funding $25,000 in scholarships for Charlotte-area high school students enrolled in AIM's dual credit Aviation Maintenance Technician program. The initiative, a partnership with the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Charlotte, includes a guaranteed job interview with the airline for graduates who complete training and obtain FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification.

Students in the program will receive mentorship from American Airlines maintenance technicians and access to the airline's maintenance facilities during training. The program also includes a 10% tuition discount for anyone working at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, regardless of employer, potentially saving workers about $5,000 over the course of their training. AIM is the only Part 147 aviation maintenance school in the Charlotte region, and its campus has been part of the community since 2019.

Industry-Wide Talent Gap

The program responds to a documented shortage of FAA-licensed aviation maintenance technicians. Oliver Wyman projects a North American mechanic shortage of about 9,100 certificated mechanics in 2025, growing to roughly 20,000 by 2030. An aging workforce exacerbates the issue, with 44% of certificated mechanics over age 60 and more than 39,000 retirements expected over the next decade. Despite rising enrollment, only 62% of available A&P program seats were filled recently.

Recent FAA certification data shows the industry is trying to catch up. The agency issued a record 11,103 new mechanic certificates in 2025, a 23.2% increase from the previous year. Aviation maintenance technician schools accounted for 7,496 of those new mechanics, a 27% increase from 2024. American Airlines managing director Jess Barrier stated that up to 700,000 additional aircraft maintenance technicians could be needed globally by 2044, including 120,000 in North America.

Charlotte Hub Context

The scholarship builds on American Airlines' significant operations at its Charlotte hub. The airline's CLT hub supports nearly 150,000 jobs across North Carolina and contributes more than $30 billion to the state’s economy. Charlotte is American’s second-largest hub, home to 16,500 American Airlines team members and approximately 800 FAA-licensed maintenance technicians. The airline operates more than 800 daily departures from CLT.

This local expansion is part of a broader hiring push. American Airlines is adding about 500 jobs for aircraft maintenance technicians across Charlotte and two other cities. This follows the airline's previous addition of more than 300 positions to its Tulsa maintenance base. The partnership with AIM builds on a formal 2022 partnership established at AIM’s Chicago campus, where students also gained engagement opportunities and guaranteed interviews.

Program Details and Pathways

Students study for 18 to 24 months at the FAA-certified school to earn their Airframe and Powerplant certification. A four-year college degree is not required for these careers. Top-performing AIM students who complete the training and certification will be eligible for guaranteed interviews with American Airlines. American’s maintenance professionals will share technical knowledge and practical experience with students during the programme.

AIM Chief Executive Officer Jason Pfaff stated the partnership has helped more than 100 AIM graduates launch careers in aviation since 2019. The collaboration extends beyond students to current airport workers. CLT Chief People Officer Natasha Jefferies said, "At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, we believe access to training creates access to opportunity." American’s Senior Vice President of Technical Operations John Bendoraitis emphasized the strategic importance, saying, "Partnerships like this are essential to building the future of aviation maintenance." The airline employs nearly 11,000 FAA-licensed aviation maintenance technicians globally to maintain its fleet.

Other airlines also contribute to the local maintenance ecosystem. Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines employ hundreds of AMTs at CLT. PSA Airlines relocated its headquarters to Charlotte in 2023, a move expected to support more than 400 jobs and generate approximately $10 million in annual state and local tax revenue. For students who complete the AIM program and earn their FAA certification, a guaranteed job interview with American Airlines awaits.