The single most pressing problem in the aerospace industry today is the availability of trained, qualified people to fill the growing number of jobs within the industry.

As those in aviation know, there is a critical shortage of skilled, educated and properly prepared personnel that is expanding geometrically as a consequence of military downsizing, commercial retirements, industry growth, competition and economics. And these conditions, evident worldwide, are affecting aerospace maintenance, repair, overhaul, manufacturer and commercial airline service providers everywhere. That's why the aerospace charge of the day is, indeed, training and that's what the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex has over the competition - on-site training to fill the expanding demands of its member companies.

In fact, since its inception in 1988, the MAAC has created over 1,200 new jobs for men and women who were licensed or certified with the proper credentials. Further, it has actively sought to apply major innovative measures to continue the source and supply of trained and re-trained folks to advance its continued growth.

Among the many initiatives which have flourished and contributed measurably to the aerospace labor supply of the Complex was the construction of the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, owned and operated by Fairmont State University. The school occupies a 60,000 square foot facility at the North Central West Virginia Airport. The most recent 15,000 sq. ft. expansion serves the Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Aviation Administration, and Professional Flight and Flight Simulation programs.

Enhancing the training and educational efforts at the MAAC is the Robert C. Byrd Institure for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI). This entity was established in 1990 in Huntington, West Virginia under the auspices of Marshall University and since its origin has become the leading manufacturing technology production and technical training facility in the state. Together with other training initiatives at MAAC, RCBI brings a marvelous capacity to provide mechanical and composites manufacturing training to the neighborhood and state.

And finally, the Army National Guard, since 1992, has operated a Fixed Wing Aviation training site at MAAC. Here, the ARNG trains aircrews in the operation of its fixed-wing aircraft and offers aircraft and instructor qualification courses under the Total Army School System. This facility also provides standardization and safety training for U.S. Army National Guard agencies.

So one can clearly see the extraordinary emphasis the members and executives of MAAC place on training. It's the number one initiative here because it's the number one concern of the industry today and it's the number one necessity to attract new businesses to the Complex.