Worcester middle school aviation program starts students on path of an airborne career

At Worcester Regional Airport, a hands-on aviation program is guiding middle school students toward an airborne career. About two dozen students spent an afternoon on the tarmac, watching two planes land and asking questions about flight dynamics and aircraft maintenance. The Worcester Aviation Career Exploration program began in January 2025 with Massport as the key financial backer and Scouting America as sponsor, and students participate one afternoon per month through June. The program cites a 5% growth projection for aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 13,100 openings per year and a median pay of over 79,000 dollars. Support also comes from Atlantic Aviation, JetBlue, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Massport helps with logistics as students tour planes, sit in LifeFlight helicopters, and explore drones and computer systems, aiming to expand next year.