HVCC students to get hands-on training at Albany International Airport

Subrina Dhammi

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COLONIE – Class will soon be in session inside a massive hangar at Albany International Airport.

Twelve-thousand square feet will soon be filled with desks, labs and workshops for students at Hudson Valley Community College as part of the Hudson Valley Community College Aeronautical Institute.

There’s even a helicopter for students to learn about the engine, and thousands more pieces in storage for students to work on.

Airport CEO Phillip Calderone says the idea for this started right at the height of the pandemic, when airports were essentially shut down.

He made note of a major shortage in aircraft technicians, and says nearly a third of that workforce is near retirement age.

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So HVCC stepped in, and acquired thousands of pieces of aircraft equipment to launch a new program.

Come fall, 40 students will be enrolled in this program and will have the opportunity to start careers with a salary right away of $55,000.

Learn more about just how in-demand these jobs really are by watching the video of Subrina Dhammi’s story.