Aerospace
Creating career exploration opportunities for students in the aerospace and aviation industries
Your Ticket To An Exciting Future
Recognizing the need for a skilled workforce in the aerospace and aviation industry, Union is among a growing number of Oklahoma high schools offering aviation curriculum developed by the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA).
Union began offering freshman classes in aerospace in 2023, providing students with hands-on experiences using a flight simulator. The district utilizes the four-year “You Can Fly” curriculum provided by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics, creating a future workforce for Oklahoma companies.
Union is leveraging relationships with Tulsa-area industry partners like American Airlines, Lufthansa Technik and others to create a dynamic program for students like no other.
“There’s a huge demand for aerospace and aviation workers, and we’re actively working with our partners to meet that demand,” said Dr. Kenneth Moore, executive director of Secondary Education at Union Public Schools.
“These introductory courses are designed to familiarize students with aviation history and the careers that are available. As students progress through the program as juniors and seniors, their choice of study will become more specialized.”
For every plane in the sky, there are dozens of jobs on the ground that make it possible!
Beginning in the ninth grade, Union students can study and explore the following careers pathways:
- Commercial Pilot
- Aviation Maintenance
- Remote Pilot/Drone
- Air Traffic Control
Along the way, students in grades 9-12 may earn certifications should they pursue further education or enter the workforce directly.
- Possible certifications include:
- FAA Student Pilot certificate
- FAA Medical certificate
- FAA Private Pilot certificate
- FAA Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) certificate
- FAA Remote Pilot certificate
- FAA Instrument Rating
- FAA Part 107 – Drone Pilot License
- *A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) certification
*Once students complete “Choose Aerospace” (the final course in the Maintenance track), they will have the knowledge to pass Part 1 of the five-part certification process.
Oklahoma’s #2 Industry
Aerospace and Defense is Oklahoma’s second-largest industry – just behind oil – with an economic impact approaching $44 billion annually. It’s one of the state’s fastest growing industries, with more than 120,000 employees working for more than 1,100 entities. These include manufacturers, MROs (maintenance, repair & operations facilities), research and development, military and others.
Aviation salaries vary significantly based on the specific role, experience and location, although most employers say the demand for local talent is increasing.
Metro Tulsa is home to the American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center, the largest commercial MRO, employing more than 5,500. Opportunities abound, with half of the workers at American expected to retire over the next six years.
Other Tulsa-area aerospace and defense-related companies include:
- Tulsa Air National Guard
- American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center
- Cherokee Nation Aerospace
- and Defense
- FlightSafety
- L3Harris
- Lufthansa Technik
- NORDAM
- Orizon Aerostructures
- Spirit AeroSystems
- TAT/Limco
- Valence Surface Technologies
Creat Your Own Flight Plan
In keeping with its mission of “100 percent graduation, college and career ready,” Union is committed to familiarizing students with career options prior to making that next big decision. Through the district’s Career Connect program, Union has already provided hundreds of students with hands-on experience in the form of internships, job shadowing or community service tailored to their interests.
“Union’s aerospace program is just one more extension of this philosophy,” Dr. Moore said, “allowing students to make more informed decisions about their future.”
Depending on the choice of aerospace career, further schooling or training may be required:
- Attending a two- or four-year college
- Going to a trade, technical or vocational program; or
- Entering the workforce directly
If you’ve ever looked up in wonder at the night sky or marveled at a plane overhead and thought, “That’s where I want to be”. Or, if you’re a little more grounded and would like a career in aviation or aerospace, Union Public Schools is offering you the chance of a lifetime.
Prepare For Takeoff
Should Union students pursue further education, there are a full array of local Oklahoma options. Currently, 11 Oklahoma colleges and universities offer aerospace degrees and certifications.
University of Oklahoma was named the #1 College for Aviation by FlyingMag.com; they offer an executive MBA in Aerospace & Defense and three graduate certificates, including one in Commercial Space Applications.
Oklahoma State University was first in the nation with a PhD program focused on UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) design.
The Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at the University of Tulsa focuses on meeting the global demand for cyber talent and technology through research and innovation.
Oklahoma’s CareerTech Network covers all aspects of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aircraft manufacturing and supporting industries.
Union Aerospace Program Course Descriptions
Union Aerospace Program Industry Partners
- American Airlines
- Boeing
- Sanford and Irene Burnstein
- Family Foundation
- Flight Safety International
- Broken Arrow
- Lufthansa Technik
- Oklahoma Dept. of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA)
- Spirit Aerosystems
- Tulsa International Airport
- Coretz Family Foundation
Contact
Dr. Kenneth Moore
Executive Director of Secondary Education
918-357-6102
Union Career Connect
The Union Career Connect program provides students the opportunity to explore a variety of careers while still in high school, thus leading to more informed post-graduation decisions and more engagement between students and elective coursework.
Aerospace At A Glance
