The Chamber’s monthly Aerospace Committee meeting was hosted by ST Engineering last week to learn more about their San Antonio operations, expansion of the facility and services, and internal apprenticeship program. After a brief presentation, committee members were given a tour and discussed innovative practices they have implemented to ensure sustainable growth and employee satisfaction.
To begin the meeting, Committee Chair Scott Gray (President, Elevate Systems) introduced Noel Casino, VP of Operations at San Antonio Aerospace (SAA), the San Antonio member of ST Engineering located at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). San Antonio Aerospace is one of three main MRO operation facilities within the United States that falls under ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace division, with the other two facilities located in Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. Noel and the San Antonio Aerospace team recapped the long-standing history of ST Engineering in the MRO industry and highlighted that its San Antonio branch has been in operation for more than 20 years. Although much of the work being done in San Antonio falls under MRO, San Antonio Aerospace also does work in Aerostructures and Systems like freighter conversion, cabin interiors, and onsite precision manufacturing. San Antonio Aerospace has been working on increasing its capacity to address the needs of its commercial clients by building additional hangars and hiring more workers.
To fill its workforce pipeline, San Antonio Aerospace developed an internal, paid apprenticeship program to train individuals with the goal of obtaining an A&P license and hiring them on full time. The program consists of approximately 30% classroom style instruction and 70% hands on learning on the shop floor to ensure that apprentices are gaining crucial on the job experience. Aside from the innovative approach of the curriculum, what really sets this model apart is the moment the apprenticeship program begins, participants are deemed full time employees of ST Engineering and have access to employee benefits like health insurance coverage. San Antonio Aerospace also partners with St. Philip’s College and Hallmark University to host apprentices and interns in their respective programs.
During the tour of the facility, the San Antonio Aerospace team explained to committee members how they have diligently worked to streamline processes by integrating technology and listening to employee feedback so that turnaround time on jobs is quicker and work is more efficient. This advancement, along with increased capacity from construction of new hangars, is one of many reasons the San Antonio Aerospace location continues to grow and attract new contracts from airlines and other commercial partners. Employee satisfaction and retention are metrics held in high regard by the San Antonio Aerospace team, to the point where they have various amenities within the facilities’ grounds like a fitness center and access to a primary care doctor that are accessible to all employees.
With SAT’s expansion, including construction of Terminal C, San Antonio Aerospace is poised to match that growth and be a key partner in marketing the City of San Antonio’s strength in the Aerospace industry. The bright orange hangars visible from the highway are truly state of the art facilities, and the San Antonio Aerospace team is eager to connect with the San Antonio community.
To learn more about the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s Aerospace Committee, please contact Jeff Fair.