Aviation Institute of Maintenance partners with VIPER Transitions to provide aviation maintenance training to at-risk veterans.
Written by Nicole Gleaton
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) officially kick-starts their strategic education partnership with VIPER Transitions, a non-profit organization on a mission to end veteran suicide by providing veterans with pre-employment training and outreach in the areas most plaguing veterans: homelessness, unemployment or underemployment, substance abuse, and an overall lack of support. The VIPER Aviation Maintenance Program is a pathway for veterans who desire a career in the field of aviation maintenance.
Following FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 147, students will receive 480 hours of instruction in General Aviation. AIM has provided their General curriculum and training to VIPER’s instructor, under the oversight of the local Flight Standard District Office (FSDO). In May, VIPER will begin with a cohort of 10-12 students over a 12-week period. Mark Holloway, Aviation Director of Education with AIM says, “AIM is thrilled to be part of the solution for successfully reintegrating military servicemembers into civilian life. The experience and passion of the VIPER faculty are unmatched. As veterans themselves, they are uniquely qualified to mentor those in the program.”
Says Kyle Kaiser, President of VIPER, “VIPER is designed to be a reverse boot camp, where we teach veterans the needed skills for their next career, but also talk about the mental changes that go along with it. It is key to explain to them that they are entering the workforce green, with little directly translatable skills. What they do have that sets them apart from their competition is their dedication to a team, trainability, and ‘never quit’ attitude. We explain that having some humility and a lot of motivation is what will make them successful.” For more information about VIPER Transitions, please visit: https://vipertransitions.org/.
About Aviation Institute of Maintenance
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is a network of aviation maintenance schools with campuses coast-to-coast in the United States and headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. AIM students are trained to meet the increasing global demand of commercial, cargo, corporate and private aviation employers. AIM graduates are eligible to take the Federal Aviation Administration exams necessary to obtain their mechanic’s certificate with ratings in both Airframe and Powerplant. AIM’s campuses are in the following major metro areas: Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, San Francisco Bay, Orlando, and Norfolk. Visit www.AviationMaintenance.edu or call (888) FIX-JETS for more information.
About VIPER
VIPER’s mission is to end veteran suicide through the elimination of its main causes: veteran unemployment, underemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, and a fractured support system. We work to accomplish this through pre-employment training, resource networking, outreach, and the inclusion of military spouses in our programs.
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