Aviation pathways
A&P Program
Overview
The Aviation Pathways A&P Program opens the door for Hawaiʻi students to launch meaningful, well‑paying careers in aviation, without leaving the islands. This program is about more than aircraft. It’s about people, opportunity, and preparing the next generation to keep Hawaiʻi connected to the world. The program offers a hands‑on approach designed just for Hawaiʻi youth who are curious about aviation and ready to build a future in a skilled trade. Through this program, high school students learn how aircraft are built, maintained, and kept safe, while earning credit toward graduation and preparing for real jobs after high school. This is the first program of its kind in Hawaiʻi to bring this level of aviation training directly into the high school experience.
Aviation Pathways
Why This Program Matters
Aviation is essential to life in Hawaiʻi. It supports tourism and travel, medical transport and emergency response, food and supply delivery, and interisland connection. Yet Hawaiʻi faces a serious shortage of trained aviation mechanics, and most employers must recruit from the mainland. At the same time, many local students don’t have access to affordable, clear career pathways that lead to long‑term stability. This A&P Program changes that; it creates a local solution: training local students for in‑demand careers that allow them to stay, work, and thrive in Hawaiʻi.
What Students Gain
Students in the Aviation Pathways A&P Program receive:
- Hands‑on learning in real aviation maintenance skills
- Instruction aligned with industry standards
- Mentorship from experienced aviation professionals
- High school elective credit toward graduation
- Preparation for certification testing and entry‑level aviation jobs
- A clear, practical path to a high‑wage career.
This is a two‑year program designed to move students from classroom learning to real‑world opportunity.
Facts About PHAM's A&P Program
- First-in-State: Hawaii’s first FAA-compliant aviation maintenance training program integrated directly into the high school experience.
- Proven Model: Operating in partnership with West-MEC, leveraging 15 years of FAA-certified curriculum and training expertise.
- Rigorous Training: The A&P program features a two-year, 1,900-hour training sequence to prepare students for the FAA A&P Certification exams.
- Workforce Solution: Designed to address critical shortages in locally certified mechanics and pilots essential to Hawaii’s tourism, food supply, and medical logistics. High-Touch Instruction:
- Maintains a small student-to-instructor ratio to ensure safety, instructional quality, and program integrity.
- Strategic Industry Partnership: Backed by a robust network of community stakeholders and donors, including Hawaiian/Alaska Airlines, who has provided in-kind training equipment and has loaned a senior A&P mechanics trainer to serve as the lead instructor for the inaugural cohort.
Requirements
- Entering Junior year of high school
- Oahu resident
- Has spoken to school counselor regarding the program
- For DOE students, apply and be enrolled into the State Distance Learning Program (SDLP)
Interested in Supporting this Program?
Your generous support fuels the dreams of local youth, empowering the next generation of aviation leaders to take flight.
Mahalo to our Generous Supporters:
Si Robin Foundation
Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines
Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC)
Hawaii Wing of the Civil Air Patrol
Toolkit Technologies
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Island Energy Services
Northrop Grumman
Mamoru & Aiko Takitani Foundation
Rick and Teresa Price
Pacific Air Cargo
Gen Raymond Johns Jr., USAF (Ret.) and Eileen Mosolino
Col. Richard “Dick” May Jr., USAF (Ret.)
Col and Mrs. Robert P. “Rob” Moore, USAF (Ret.)
Jack and Michelle Schneider
Mike and Carol Shealy
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.
Brad and Sue Ball
Barbara Cargill
Chuck and Shari Cotton
Kathryn Pickman
Solairus Aviation
John and Kim Sterling
Greg Stout
Chris Thorpe and Pam Dickson
Dr. Martha and Mr. Buck Welch Jr.
Kelly K. White