Senator calls for more aviation programs in Washington state
January 9, 2012, 06:13 pm
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell recently made a visit to Yakima, Washington, to discuss the need for more aerospace and aviation jobs in Washington state, after the Washington Council on Aerospace called for 20,000 new employees in the field to meet the rising demand.
Cantwell toured the GE Aviation Plant, which produces parts for the military and commercial companies including Boeing. At the end of her trip, Cantwell said that the Yakima aviation industry is very competitive and is able to manufacture parts cost effectively, Yakima news source KIMA-TV reported.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reported around 21,000 new aviation jobs are expected to be created in Washington over the next 10 years, and programs will need to be developed to produce qualified professionals.
Under Cantwell's guidance as chairwoman of the Senate Aviation Committee, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $20 million in grants to 14 community and technical colleges in Washington to be used for funding training programs in the aviation industry. The courses will cover a variety of aviation-themed topics ranging from maintenance, manufacturing and pilot insurance, the source reported.
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