New class of aviation graduates in Hagerstown excited to step into industry

HAGERSTOWN, Md. ( DC News Now ) — On Friday, 25 students turned their tassels, ending one chapter and starting the next in their aviation careers.

The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) held its graduation ceremony at its Hagerstown location.

Some graduates said they are already looking forward to their futures in aviation.

“I actually accepted a contingent offer with CommuteAir at Dulles and so I still have to go finish my written test before I’m able to officially start there,” Nicholas Powell said. “I’m excited I get to start there in October if everything goes well, so it’s very exciting.”

With a nationwide shortage of aviation maintenance technicians due to one in three technicians retiring early, having an abundance of graduates going into those open roles is essential.

“The long-term outlook for us is we’re going to continue to train as many students as our facilities will allow and we’re hoping to do our part to try to address the shortage,” President and CEO of PIA Suzanne Markle said.

Graduates like Hayden Clark who have already secured a job after graduation says he is more than excited to apply what he has learned in the classroom out in the field.

“So excited to start Piedmont and I’m happy that I can work nose to tail everything about it gives me experience throughout the whole aircraft,” Clark said.

“The sky’s the limit for these graduates,” Markle said. “They have multiple job offers per graduate and we’ve got companies coming in from all over the country to interview these folks and make job offers to them.”

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