YOUNGSTOWN --- One of the top-rated trade schools in the United States is thrilled to begin its next chapter.
On Wednesday, September 20th, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) will host the expansion ribbon-cutting ceremony for its highly-rated Youngstown-Warren branch from 10:30-11:30am at YNG Hangar 3, located at 1453 Youngstown-Kingsville Rd NE, Vienna, OH 44473.
In 2016, PIA invested $1.3M in its purchase of the site and construction of a new two-story teaching facility at its Hangar 3 site. This new facility includes electrical and welding classrooms, an aeronautics lab, a conference facility, administrative offices, and a student resource center with a computer lab. The adjacent hangar features specialized shop areas for aircraft propulsion systems, electricity, sheet metal, hydraulics, instruments & controls, composite materials, non-destructive testing, welding, and painting.
Plans for the project were developed with the Michigan-based Sidock Group, Inc., an architect, engineer and project manager who specializes in the heavy industrial and aerospace industries.
This project, led by interests in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, unites several so-called "Rust Belt" businesses in pursuit of a forward-thinking goal: providing educational excellence in one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in America.
“Our expansion is a continued expression of the Youngstown region’s strong history in aviation,” said Suzanne Markle, President and CEO of the non-profit PIA. “Our investment in our facilities and our students is in response to strong career demand. We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level technical skills we know our employers seek.”
According to the 2016 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook, between 2017 and 2035 the aviation industry will need to supply more than two million new aviation personnel—including 679,000 maintenance technicians worldwide.
Since 2006, PIA’s Youngstown Branch campus has been training certified and work-ready aviation maintenance technicians with a 16-month diploma program in Aviation Maintenance Technology. With an impressive 94% placement rate and a student-focused average ratio of 10 students for every instructor, the Youngstown-Warren campus was honored as a 2016 School of Excellence by the Accrediting Commission of Career School and Colleges (ACCSC). PIA looks forward to seeing the growth impact this renovated facility will have on the success of its students.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recognized among the top schools fighting the nation’s skills gap in a list published in 2017 by Forbes. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics lands as the No. 11 Two-Year Trade School in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades.
Niche rankings place Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in the #8 position among 619 trade schools in the United States for 2017 and #2 of 23 in Pennsylvania. Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews. Additionally, in 2017, Zippia placed PIA among the top 10 best U.S. junior colleges for jobs based on a variety of score card data including emphasis on job placement results.
PIA’s campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach have been selected as four of approximately 40 aircraft maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines in an effort to find the schools whose graduates are able to meet or exceed their high expectations.
For more information or directions to the campus, please visit: http://pia.edu/campuses/youngstown/
About Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
The school was opened by Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright in 1927 as Curtiss-Wright Flying Service, and became PIA in 1929. Today, PIA is a non-profit, career-focused family of schools offering programs in Aviation Maintenance and Aviation Electronics. The instructional staff combine real-world experience with classroom instruction, and a wide range of student and graduate services. PIA’s Career Services team works individually with each student to reach their employment goals. PIA is often the first stop for many employers looking for quality employees. PIA offers an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree at its West Mifflin, PA, location and Diploma programs in Youngstown, OH, Hagerstown, MD, and Myrtle Beach, SC. There is open enrollment through the year accompanied with admissions requirements. For more information, call 1-800-444-1440, or visit www.pia.edu.
