American Airlines and West Los Angeles College (West) have joined forces to offer training and education for next-generation aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs).

Students from West Los Angeles College (West) will now have direct access to the airline’s Los Angeles-based AMTs through various engagement opportunities.

The partnership also means that top-performing college students will be guaranteed interviews with the airline.

Evie Garces, vice president of line maintenance at American Airlines, said: “Well-trained AMTs are in high demand, and West prepares students for successful, lucrative careers.

“Our team of locally-based AMTs is eager to work side-by-side with students, providing ongoing mentorship and real-world experience.

“American has proudly served Los Angeles for more than 75 years and this is just one more way we continue to support the community where our customers and team members live and work.”

Dr. James Limbaugh, president of West Los Angeles College, said: “The students, faculty, and staff at West are collectively excited about the launch of a new partnership with American Airlines, and the unique opportunities it will provide our students.

“American’s team of aviation maintenance professionals is the best in the business and we look forward to welcoming them to campus.

“Our students will benefit greatly from their expertise and will have a competitive edge when they graduate and enter the workforce.

“At West, our motto is ‘Go West. Go Far.’ With this partnership, our students will go even further than before.”

West Los Angeles College has served the Los Angeles community since 1969 and is a designated Hispanic Serving Institution.

The college offers traditional transfer and associate degrees through its academic programmes as well as certificate and special programmes.

Each semester, the college offers nearly 1,000 classes in 12 different academic disciplines.

American Airlines and its wholly-owned carriers employ nearly 7,000 team members at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), including 468 in the airline’s line maintenance team, which helps maintain the airline’s mainline fleet of more than 950 aircraft.

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