Piedmont Airlines this week donated one of its aircraft and engines to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to support the launch of its Part 147-certified Aviation Maintenance Technician School.
The regional carrier, which is owned by American Airlines, said it gave the university an Embraer E145 and two Rolls-Royce static turbofan jet engines. The airplane is fully functional, the airline said, and will give students hands-on experience as part of their training.
“We firmly believe in the power of workforce development opportunities that provide resources in helping to shape the future of aviation,” Piedmont CEO Eric Morgan said in a statement. “We take great pride in donating this aircraft and engines to UMES’ students, knowing that these resources are more than a tangible contribution, they’re an investment in the long-term future of aviation.”
“By placing real-world tools in their hands, we’re helping to shape a skilled, diverse workforce that will strengthen the talent pipeline throughout the industry for years to come,” Morgan added.
The Aviation Maintenance Technician School’s first cohort, consisting of 15 students, began class in late August. Personnel from Piedmont played an active role in shaping the program’s curriculum, with additional support coming from Wicomico County, Maryland, the state of Maryland, and Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, a local public-private partnership.
UMES is one of the few historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. with an FAA-certified airframe and powerplant program.
“Having access to a fully functional aircraft and industry-grade engines is a game-changer for our students,” said Chris Proscia, manager of the aviation maintenance program at UMES, in a news release. “These resources allow us to provide hands-on training that mirrors real-world scenarios, giving our graduates a competitive edge as they enter the aviation maintenance field.”
UMES is located close to Piedmont’s maintenance base in southeast Maryland. This proximity will allow students to tour Piedmont’s hangars and learn from the carrier’s maintenance team.
Since 2021, Piedmont has donated seven aircraft engines to schools along the East Coast, including UMES.
