Epic Flight Academy’s New Mechanic Program Will Help Nurture the Next Generation of Aviation Technicians

Hello, and welcome to the Beyond MRO podcast brought to you by Feam Aero. I'm your host Michelle Dawn Mooney, and today we have some exciting news talk about Epic Flight Academy is building an aviation school at CVG Airport in partnership with Feam Aero, and I am thrilled to bring on two great guests to talk about that because it is really big news. Cam Murphy is the president of Beam Arrow. And Josh Rawlins COO of Epic Flight Academy. Thank you both for joining me today. Thank you. Thanks for having us. I I I'm happy. This is our first podcast. So I am happy this is gonna be is gonna be fun. Yeah. I'm really looking forward to this conversation because as I said, exciting news to talk about. So Before we dive into that, can we get a brief bio? Maybe starting with you, Cam, so people hear a little bit more about the person they're getting ready to get some information from. I'm Cam Murphy, president here at Feam, we're a family owned and operated business. My father started the company over thirty years ago with just two guys in a truck. Now we have, over thirteen hundred technicians. We're in over forty cities here in the US and twelve in Europe. And, even though we fix airplanes, we are in the business of people. So this partnership is huge for us, and it's a huge opportunity for us to increase the the pipeline of individuals coming into not only theme of the aviation industry. And Josh, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Yeah. I'm Josh Rollins. I started in aviation about twenty years ago with a broom in my hand, and a hanger, for a really small flight school that had, about eight to ten employees. I became an apprentice, an an apprentice for an aircraft become an aircraft mechanic, later became the director of maintenance for the shop, then the vice president of the flight school itself, and then eventually the COO, as we started to grow to over over a hundred employees, We realized our need for aircraft mechanics. Same thing having a really hard time finding them. We decided that, we had been doing apprenticeships in the hangar for a really long time, and that we might as well start training our own mechanic and, we're training pilots. Why not train mechanics? So we started that. Been about two years now since we finally opened the schools a really long process. To get it going. But we're really, really excited now to, to grow it and not only grow it here in New Smyrna, but grow it outside in New Smyrna at CBG. Well, I'm excited to hear about this conversation because both of you are very passionate about what you do in your individual companies. But before we get into the the big news that we're here to discuss, I think this is really awesome to hear about your personal takes with regard to this partnership because I think you are both like minded individuals, and I think the companies are also representative of that. So before we kind of talk about this big event that's about to happen, What was it that kind of drew, theme, and epic together? The first conversation I think actually started out when, of the I think it was somebody from HR, and I cannot remember his name, reached out looking for mechanics. And we had a few people kinda reaching out, you know, looking for mechanics at the time. And, he came and visited the school, and he's like, man, he's like, I really wanna bring down, you know, Cam, and his father as well and have him have them come down and see the school and and talk about hiring some of your mechanics. Well, they they came down and we we sat down and I think the first conversation was, you know, we we we need mechanics. We need mechanics desperately. And, it was well, how how many do you need? How many We need all of them. All that you can all that you can produce. So the conversation kinda went from there that, you know, Our school is capable here of a hundred and twenty five students here in New Smyrna Beach. I think at the time, they were looking for a hundred mechanics. So, obviously, we realized that the need was was greater than we could even produce here. And the conversation kinda led to Well, why don't we start another school that's closer to to us maybe? And the partnership just kinda grew from there and seemed really, really natural. I think the more time we spent going to FEMA or they spent here, we realized how like minded we were how well the companies worked together. It was it was a family atmosphere in both places. So it kinda just grew from there, and we were both really excited about it. I I I I joss summed it up verbally. And that and that's a hundred percent right. I mean, I think the more and more we interacted as to organizations, it was that the cultures were so much aligned. I mean, even even, you know, as Josh is talking about working at different facets of the business, that's how I grew up in the business. And when we saw how creative they were on, I mean, literally they took a old, car lot and turned it into an A and P school. We were like, these guys are amazing. I mean, these guys are absolutely amazing because there are already, you know, thinking outside of the box using different technologies and different ways to attack the problem and come up with really good solutions, and they understood the need of preparing students to be as best as they possibly can for whoever they go to. So we were like, we got a partner with these guys, and and we had lunch together. And I just remember, Josh and Danny. I was like, I can hang out with these guys all day. I said, learn from these guys. So it's it's just been nonstop and, you know, it's we're just we're very grateful to have found, you know, a relationship like this. So here we are today, organizations partnering together on breaking ground on a new aviation school. So tell me about the expected scope of the aviation school, Josh. Yeah. So originally, we, when we came up to the area, we started looking at property, near the airport. Obviously, there's a lot of, you know, there's a lot of industrial buildings. There's bigger buildings. We need space up there. We need to able to have an airplane inside A lot of a lot of hanger space, you know, room for the students to rebuild engines, do all type of stuff like that. But the more we looked, it's it's hard to find space that also has the amount of parking that you need. You're talking parking for two hundred and fifty students. So you can find a warehouse but it has parking for twenty. So, obviously, after we looked around a lot, this, and it's kinda like, I'll come back to the story, in New Smyrna and how we got that building. But it was almost like things just fell together. I mean, As we're looking and looking, all of a sudden, here's this piece of property that's right around a a stone's throw from theme. And right behind the CVG airport office, that becomes available. It was the perfect size to be able to put our, a building on that you know, the size building and and parking that we would need there, as well as even have access to the airport, which wasn't something we definitely, you know, a hundred that needed, but there it was, you know. So so we we acquired the property. And now we've Getting ready to break ground on the actual building, which will be, thirty thirty thousand square feet, with ten classrooms in it. Like I said, enough room for two hundred and fifty students. Originally, actually, when we got into this project, we were looking at a hundred and twenty five students, the way the FA allows us to have classroom sizes. There's certain numbers, that we can do. But we really quickly realized the demand up there and that a hundred twenty five wasn't gonna cut it and that we needed to double the size of the school. So the whole project in itself, it's it's feel felt really natural and kind of flown. It's just it's really where we need to be. It's a perfect location for the airport. Yeah. And, Cam, why is supporting an aviation school, really a natural synergy for FEMA? So, I mean, I I mean, you know, we fixed planes. So that's that's one. But I think, really, we're we're in the business of people. So being able and having an opportunity, to partner with like minded people, go into the actual community, and be able to take someone and grow them into different positions. It's something that, you know, we've naturally done. And, And like I mentioned, the relationship that we have started with Epic and we have with Epic, they have the same amount of energy, and they understand the need Right now, there's a there's a massive labor shortage and it's gonna continue, you know, growing. So us putting this together and working with Epic and creating a pipeline really secures our future for not only FEMA, but our customers as well. Yeah. And speaking of future, Josh, I wanna ask you this, how will the groundbreaking ceremony really mark a new era for Epic? I think it I think it kinda marks a new error for for all of us, and not just epic, but for, you know, for the industry and the way we do training. This idea of of working with an MRO, that the students can actually be part of where, you know, people from the MRO coming into the school regularly, the students can go and visit the MRO. I think, you know, that what's gonna mark the new error. It's it's it's a new error in in aviation training, really, in in the way it's done. Let's talk about the students because that's the integral tier of the school. So what opportunities will the school provide to its students? How will the school benefit also from femme support to help those students. So the before at a at a school at most schools, there's only so much equipment you can have there. There's only so many aircraft you can have there. There's only so much room. So you teach a student in a classroom or in a in a building, how to work on, let's just say landing gear or brakes or anything like that. And but it's small. You're talking a assessment one seventy two. This is smaller than a a a car tire, you know, that they're working on and they're looking at. And then students go out and they go out into the industry, and they walk into a place like Thiem, and there's a, you know, a triple seven in the hangar and it's absolutely massive and and and breathtaking to them. The the the great part about this is that the students are able to have time to go over there and see this type of stuff while they're in school. And and so have that experience of seeing that and just a natural progression from school into the actual industry. And how does that make you feel, Kim, to to have that part in helping those students in in everything the judge just said? I think I think it's it's incredibly important. I think, you know, I mean, Josh is is hitting the nail right on the head. And I think, you know, one of the opportunities I think we have at CVG Airport especially, you know, I look at this partnership as, you know, it's us, it's epic, it's the airport, and it's there's this excitement. There's this excitement when you go out there and you go Wow. You know, look at all this infrastructure that's being built for the aviation community. And there's so many different opportunities. And EPIC is providing a pipeline of students that they can really go anywhere on the airfield and really anywhere in the world. And I think that that excitement, I think, especially for the younger generations is there. I think that another blessing in disguise that we both have is that, when you look across and you go, hey, Amazon's right here. They're building a one mile long warehouse facility over a hundred aircraft parking, you're like, this is growing. There's something here. And the the, you know, we're in the industry where, if you're an A and P, licensed tech, you're not gonna be replaced by a, AI anytime soon. So you're you're protected in your job, and I think that the youthfulness and the energy that, you know, the Epic team has. A lot of people are attracted to it, and it's gonna be something new for the aviation industry. Like Josh said, there's gonna be more. This is a good example for the industry to follow, and I think there's gonna be a lot more of these to come. So we're we're we're happy to be a part of it. Let's talk about briefly you mentioned, of course, CBG Airport, just the local impact. What are we talking about? What kind of impact do you expect this school to have in the Cincinnati, Kentucky area? You know, I think our our our hopes is that that the school is gonna be packed it's gonna be packed because, you know, Epic is providing really an opportunity. You have a lot of warehouse workers in the area and in the surrounding communities that you know, these are high paying jobs, and they're able to come to epic, take courses, you know, and really put their schedules together that works with their, you know, work life balance and graduate and immediately have jobs. And I think that's something that is very, very impactful. And I can see this evolving in the future where, you know, you got high schools coming to Epic and going, Hey, how can we have a program with you to graduate kids and take, and kids can take courses during the summer? Because This is this is really what, you know, Epic has done an excellent job at. And it's why they were they are where they are. And that, you know, we're gonna get an opportunity to learn from them. And getting younger kids and growing the actual community and really being involved in every intricate way. Yeah. I I think exactly what Ken was saying with the high schools, is an extremely important part of this and being able to work with the local high schools. And, actually, it has gotten easier recently to be able to do this type of stuff, to have part of the program, which we call the general as the very getting part of the program, in the actual high schools where students will be able to, do this part of the program while they're still in school. And come out and have part of their training already done. And it's a it's up to, it's up to four months of their their their certificate will be cut off. It'll save them that much time, when they come out of high school with this certificate. Josh, let me ask you some of the challenges that the industry is facing when it comes to educating that next generation what will the school and the ultimate partnership with FEMA do in helping to take care of some of those challenges that are faced? And I think I think it's the the the partnership with the high schools, us, and then all the way through theme kinda creates that, you know, helps create that that natural just progression for the students. A lot of the students in high school, it's it's it's wild. We actually go to tools that have automotive programs and stuff like this. These are, you know, smart kids that, good with tools, good with their hands, I'm excited about working on things. But when you walk in and start talking to them about aviation and working on airplanes, they they kinda look at you like, I I can't work on airplanes, you know, like, like, like, I gotta go to school for years and years for that. And, like, it they they don't realize it's out there. You know, and when you tell them like, hey, you can come here for nineteen months. And and when you're done, you're gonna go directly to work. Working on aircraft in the industry, working on rockets. I mean, working there's there's a lot of stuff that, you know, and a lot of them think, you know, it's just aircraft, but it's it's high speed rail, it's roller coasters. A lot of this, this advanced equipment that's in some of these, factories and stuff like that, any kind of technical jobs. There's a wide range of of what they can do. And speaking of which, how can the aviation industry in sure that students are supported during their transition from education, which we're gonna hear about more about the fabulous education they can receive. To ultimately the workforce. Cam, wanna start that off? So I think I think the one of the biggest things I think is, you know, kinda what you know, we're doing. I think industry partnerships are are huge. I think in in whole the aviation industry, we have to have more partnerships. I think that you know, we've gone through a time where there's competitors and internally always like, you know, use the term competimates because we all have to get together and help with this pipeline. I mean, when you really look at everything, you know, to to have this this this workforce that's needed, you know, we gotta work to have job placements, scholarship programs as we did. Some of this is putting your money where your mouth is and making sure that you're providing opportunities for these students so that they can be able to go to school and work in pathway programs. I think, you know, it's a it's a it's a fact that the the shortage is is is really, you know, I call it the the the baby boomer effect is that you got thirty five percent of the entire workforce that they will be you know, retiring. So to get those next generation of students, you really do have to work with partnerships and work with schools like Epic and work together to create this awareness because I'm Josh had it right on the head. You know, most people have no idea what goes on in aviation. They they get on their plane They have no idea all the different things, the engine shops, sheet metal shops, the line maintenance. They they're not exposed to that. So we all have to look together to really expose the the, you know, community and include them in it. And I think Epic is gonna do a great job at it. They are creating huge buzz already. And I think one of the unique things that a lot of A and P schools do not have is that they're gonna be on the airfield. So when you come visit for the first time, you're gonna be able to see live aircraft right there. And it's like you're here. You are in this ecosystem. I agree. And I it it's funny every time it I I feel like we're taking the words out of each other's mouth, you know. That it's exactly that's exactly what it's gonna take. Is is working together doing exactly what, we've done here with Beam. And I I feel like Beam was one of the first to really come to the table. With something like this and an idea like this. We we had thought about stuff like that. It was just, you know, to go do a tour of a facility, was an incredible experience for our students. But to be able to actually work, you know, hand in hand with them, as the students progress through school, it's really just it's it's next level, and it's incredibly exciting. As we're wrapping up here, let's talk about the future. What are you most excited about? Both of you heading into the future with the aviation industry? And the use of new technologies to improve the learning experience that obviously has a big impact on the school side, but then even more importantly, when they graduate and they go on to the worksite. I think there's a lot of there's a lot of new technologies that are just really starting to hit the industry now for for the students, and what they're gonna see when they get out there. Augmented reality, things like this, where where students or employees, once they get out there, are gonna be able to see, aircraft manuals live in their face, help them to highlight certain areas of the aircraft, help them troubleshoot, there's so much out there right now that's just really we're starting to see the tip of the iceberg on. So it's it's exciting to be a part of that from the very beginning and and see what's coming down the line. Yeah. I I completely agree. I mean, I think as a whole, the aviation industry, you know, it's it's starting to transform. And I think, you know, Josh hit it right on the head when it comes to virtual reality, augmented reality, and, you know, using things to simulate, you know, flight operations and and maintenance procedures that that can be done in a safe way. I think those things are are are coming, using AI. I mean, we're all going crazy over chat, GPT. And in being able to create these personalized learning experiences. And I think something that, is happening in the background is you know, you have this electrical vertical takeoff and landing where everyone is getting into using technology and using these these these data you know, to make better data driven decisions. And you're seeing a lot of companies including, you know, Amazon and others invest in Uber invest in this space And the great thing is all of these things have to be supported by A and P's, and Epic is providing that opportunity because, that's that's never gonna go away. It's never gonna go away where, you know, you don't have to send someone out to an aircraft, you know. We would have to be able to produce very, very smart robots to be going out. And I I I've we've we've all seen the Elon Musk robot, and it can barely walk. So it's it's this is not This is not something that, you know, technology, and and that's why there's such a big shortage because the supply of, you know, air aircraft are growing tremendously and using technologies and partnering with schools like Abbig is the only way that we're gonna be able to, as a community, as a whole, the whole aviation community, to really combat the actual labor shortages. So, you know, it's it's important and, I'm definitely excited about new technology even though the industry is sometimes slow to come along to it, but it's something that I think that everyone, will actually benefit from, and for especially from a learning standpoint to increase the, the speed in which a student can learn by using these tools, I think, are extremely helpful. And a lot of excitement, not only with the future and with technology. Of course, teaching that next generation, but so much excitement for both of you to be here today, talking about the Epic Flight Academy, building an aviation school at CVG Airport in partnership with theme arrow and this is big stuff, big news. So both of you, I I'm just gonna have to say on a personal note. You have really cool jobs. Did you ever think that you'd grow up and work in and around and with airplanes? Me? No. And I definitely never thought I would be, running a, flight school and an aircraft mechanic school, but, it's it's been an amazing journey, and I still have a long ways left to go. I hope No. I I I did not. I mean, you know, growing up, I was definitely into athletics. I played football in college, and I I thought I was gonna probably be NFL bound. And, after selling my first company, I I I kinda got it's like, once you get the aviation bug, it's just, like, in your system. And, I and I love it. And it's been such a blessing and and and to have the opportunity to be able to bless as many people as we can. I mean, we're we're excited about it. And, and like, like Josh said, this is gonna be we we hit him and I have a long way to go. So this is gonna be it's it's this is, this is gonna be exciting and you know, I I I have a feeling that this is gonna be one of of many. So I'm I'm excited about that as well. I wanna thank both of you for being here today, Cam Murphy, president Feam Aero and Josh Rawlins, COO, of Epic Flight Academy. A lot of exciting things happening and appreciate your time today. Thank you, Michelle. Thank you. And I wanna thank all of you for tuning in and listening to Beyond MRO, a podcast brought to you by FEAM Aero. I'm your host Michelle Dawn Mooney. We hope to see you soon.