Nonprofit Seeking to Launch Aviation Apprenticeship Program

VT – Habitat For Aviation is based at the Franklin County State Airport (FSO) in Highgate, Vermont, and its founder, Beth White, wants to establish a first-of-its-kind program to teach young people how to repair aircraft, both the conventional as well as electric-powered types. The hours put in by apprentices would be able to count toward future certifications in airframe, powerplant, and avionics.

To make her vision take shape, White and her family plan to turn a vacant 9,600 SF warehouse into an aircraft hangar with space for working on electric motors and internal combustion engines as well as other aircraft components, and amenities such as lockers, a kitchen, and a break area that can support as many as 30 people. The building is outside the airport fence, so a new taxi lane must be built to move aircraft between the hangar and the runway. In addition, water and sewer lines will need to be extended from their current terminus at nearby Missisquoi Valley Union High School, a $3.5 million project for which a bond for $500,000 was approved by town voters in the fall of 2021.

Volunteers have begun to renovate and repurpose the warehouse and White expects the work to be completed in about two years. She is applying for state workforce development grants and is also reaching out to private foundations for financial support of the project. Habitat For Aviation is already working with South Burlington-based electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies to design the facility to accommodate aircraft. The company also intends to train its future technicians in the program.