Aviation High School

New York (WABC) -- A unique high school in New York City gives students a valuable experience. It is an experience that nearly guarantees that they will land a job after graduating in the aviation industry. The students actually work with professionals from the airlines.

Graduation ceremonies at Aviation High School are filled with tradition.

The graduates are nearly guaranteed a job in the airline industry, especially in aircraft maintenance.

Aviation High School Principal, Eileen Taylor says, "There's approximately 12 per cent of the aviation mechanics in the United States that graduated from Aviation High School. We're very proud of that."

For certification as mechanics, students must complete a five year program, which also leads to a Regents diploma in academics.

Uddit Patel, an Aviation High School Graduate says, "It took us in all the different aspects of aviation. I'm pretty confident I could fix aircraft after these five years."

Interns learn about everything from the cockpit to the engines with professionals.

Bob Trnka, a Delta Airlines maintenance manager says, "What's good about this for the company is, we have people in front of us that are really auditioning for a job."

Nancy Kumar is interning at the J.F.K. air traffic control tower. She says, "Because of, you know, the Aviation maintenance program, I learned a lot about air traffic control."

Aviation alumnus, Sandy Salas, was recently hired as a controller. "It just grabbed my interest, and I said, 'allright, I start at Aviation, I want to know about aircraft and how they work, so I was, like, I'm gonna get my two licenses and then go off to college and become an air traffic controller."

Educators at Aviation High School say they have a main goal of preparing students to go to college, but at the end, they will all know their way around an aircraft.

Student Deborah Cano says, "Travel and aviation is something that will always be there, so there will always be a job."

Art McFarland

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