Copa Airlines ATA Academy Graduates 23 Aeronautical Maintenance Technicians
Copa Airlines, together with its Academy of Aeronautical Technicians (ATA), graduated 23 new aeronautical maintenance technicians, with the highest international standards, who join the 84 aeronautical technicians who graduated from the academy and are currently working for the airline.
“At Copa Airlines we promote the generation of Panamanian talent specialized in technical areas of the aviation sector, with the objective of providing opportunities for growth and development for the benefit of the local economy and above all for the communities where we operate. A few years ago, the aircraft maintenance services we performed in Panama were very few. This has been growing and as of November of this year, up to 90% of these services will be performed at our Maintenance Center, located at Tocumen International Airport, and only 10% will be performed abroad,” said Rafael Samudio, vice president of Technical Operations for Copa Airlines.
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ATA is an academy funded by Copa, which was created with the purpose of finding and training talented young people who do not have the resources to afford the certifications required by the industry, and give them the opportunity to train at no cost in maintenance and inspection of aviation systems, under local and international quality standards, and enter directly to work in the airline’s maintenance center.
Young students and airline employees who enter this academy receive scholarships from the Copa Airlines Despega Foundation, which provides a monthly financial contribution, and in addition covers all transportation costs, life and health insurance, uniforms and materials associated with their training, in addition to the career itself, which is provided at no cost to the student.
From 2014 to date ATA has graduated 136 students in 08 student groups. Currently, four groups are in the process of formation with 89 students, 12% of whom are women, and it expects to open two more groups by February 2023, with 48 students.
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In the next four years, ATA expects to graduate 137 technicians with specializations in structures and systems. Those wishing to enter the program must have a high school diploma, recognized by the Ministry of Education. It is desirable that they are graduates of a Professional (Vocational) Technical College, with a degree in any career in the technical area, such as Electromechanics, Electricity, Electronics, General Mechanics or Automotive Mechanics.
ATA’s next enrollment period is scheduled for October 1-31, with classes to begin in February 2023. The selection process includes mathematical skills tests, psycho-technical tests of analytical and decision-making skills.
ATA, in addition to encouraging the participation of young graduates from different technical careers, is an initiative of the airline with a view to offering growth opportunities within the company for those workers who wish to apply and train in this program.
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