American Airlines has donated a Pratt & Whitney JT8D
engine from a retired McDonnell Douglas MD-80 to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM).
The engine will be used by students for hands-on training
at the school’s Chicago campus, helping them to pass their aviation maintenance
technician (AMT) certification.
American Airlines’ final MD-80 flight took place in 2019.
“American is honored to donate this important
piece of aviation technology to students at AIM,” said Evie Garces,
American’s Vice President of Line Maintenance. “As a former AMT, I
know first-hand how important it is to have access to equipment
like this as you’re learning new skills. The MD-80 powered
American’s future when it took its first revenue flight in 1983,
and this engine will help power students’ futures as they work
toward their certifications and career aspirations for years to
come.”
The engine donation is part of our ongoing
partnership with AIM that provides students with ongoing
engagement with American’s team of aviation maintenance
professionals and access to American’s maintenance facilities, as
well as guarantees top candidates from AIM’s Chicago campus
interviews with American.
“We are excited to enhance our partnership with
American Airlines in 2023, and receiving this impressive aircraft
engine will allow us to provide more resources and experience to
our student body in Chicago,” said Dr. Joel English, Executive
Vice President of AIM. “Hands-on training on a range of airframes
and powerplants is essential for the AIM graduate to become
prepared to join the workforce after graduation. American sees the
value of investing in our diverse student population, and this
donation will help us prepare our current students to become
tomorrow’s American Airlines technicians.”
Aviation maintenance professionals from American’s
Chicago Technical Operations team are also mentoring a
five-student team for the upcoming Aerospace Maintenance
Competition in Atlanta from 18 to 20 April.
The competition, held in
conjunction with Aviation Week’s MRO Americas, brings together
teams from schools, airlines, military, general aviation, repair
and maintenance organizations and space to compete against each
other in real-life maintenance scenarios.
