The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) will be hosting a career fair on Thurday, Nov. 4 at its Youngstown campus (1453, Youngstown-Kingsville Rd. NE, Youngstown).

The following employers will be attending the event to recruit currently enrolled students.

-CommutAir

-Constant Aviation

-SkyWest Airlines

-Air Wisconsin

-Endeavor

-PSA Airlines

-Republic Airlines

-Wheels Up

-Lockheed Martin

-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

-Piedmont Airlines

-Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services

-GE Aviation

-McKinley Air

-Gulfstream 

Employers attending the event will meet one-on-one with students and discuss currently trending issues in aviation maintenance career education. Interviews will be conducted from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Many factors, including an aging aviation maintenance workforce and shortage of trained airframe and powerplant (A&P) technicians have employees investing in recruiting serious candidates as early as pre-enrollment.

"As students advance in their education, employers are more frequently following students' progress to graduation and it's becoming more common for a student to receive an employment offer prior to graduation contingent on successfully completing the federal [exam]," said PIA CEO, Suzanne Markle. 

On average across all four PIA campuses, graduates accept a full-time position within just 50 days after graduation. 

"Additionally, employers are extending employment offers prior to graduation contingent on successfully completing the federal exam, often with signing bonuses starting at $2,500 and higher, as well as relocation packages, job growth and management planning, and in-kind donations such as maintenance tools are becoming more common to support graduates choosing an employer," said PIA Associate Director of Career Services, Mindy Pavilions.

The Boeing Technical Outlook, North America points to a need for 192,000 qualified aircraft maintenance technicians between 2020 and 2039.