Written by Abraham Galvan on December 26, 2023

The Miami-based Barrington Irving Technical Training School has secured jobs in the fast-growing aviation sector for its graduating class.

The training school is led by Captain Barrington Irving, a Guinness World Record-breaking pilot who was the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the world.

The center opened in 2022 with financial support from Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert III. The county-backed school offers Miami-area and international students with diverse backgrounds the opportunity to develop technical skills they need to work in aviation that are also transferable to fields outside of aviation.

“Our goal has been to transform the lives of those in our community – many of whom may not have had the opportunity to lead a successful career or start a new one in the aviation field,” Mr. Irving said. “We are helping people in Miami-Dade achieve their professional dreams. As they do so, we are building a diverse talent pipeline for business aviation.”

Aviation industry firms including Signature Flight Support, Landing Gear Technologies, Atlantic Aviation, AAR Corp. and Xtreme Aviation hired the 15 graduating students. The school offers certifications intended to upskill students faster so they can begin career work. The certifications from the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) are widely recognized by employers.

The new graduates completed a 12-week workforce development program in maintenance, repair, and operations or fixed base operator, the companies that service business jets. The students received their certifications for the program, which are provided by Aviation Workforce Solutions, the National Business Aviation Association, the National Air Transportation Association and Snap-on Inc.

Florida has the third-largest aviation industry in the US based on total economic impact and jobs. The state is home to more than 200 aviation manufacturing companies.

“This is a one-of-a-kind training school that will reshape our industry by bringing the workers we need as we grow,” said Ed Bolen, the president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association.

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