UMES Receives FAA Certification for Aviation Maintenance Technician School at SBY

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) recently received its FAA Part 147 Certification to operate an Aviation Maintenance Technician school at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY). Students completing the 1900 hour, one-year program will receive a Certificate and be eligible to sit for both an Airframe and Powerplant certification test. Passing these tests grants the student A&P Mechanic certification, a highly sought after and valued recognition in the aviation industry. Credits accumulated through the program can be transferred toward a four-year degree at UMES at the option of the student. While some training is specific to the aviation sector, much of the training (hydraulics, electronics, etc.) is applicable to multiple economic sectors. Students therefore are not limited to the aviation or aeronautical sectors for meaningful careers. The program will begin with a maximum cohort of twenty-five students. SWED was proud to lead the effort for the program and recognizes success could not have occurred without many partners including Wicomico County, the State of Maryland, UMES, Piedmont Airlines and the Tri-County Council. The program will begin in January, 2025. For more information, please visit: https://wwwcp.umes.edu/amt/

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November 11, 2025
'Transportation as an Economic Catalyst' was the theme at our 57th Annual Meeting held at the Wicomico County Youth & Civic Center. More than one hundred attendees networked and heard updates and strategies to drive economic growth from Tony Rudy (Director of Aviation at SBY Airport), Cliff Grunstra (Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Carload Express) and SWED Executive Director David Ryan (substituting for David Pierce of NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility due to the government shutdown). John Hickman and Ashley Panagakos of BEACON at Salisbury University provided results of an Economic Impact study of the Port of Salisbury.  The study found the Port has an overall annual economic and employment impact of $225 million and 600 jobs in Wicomico County, respectively.
November 6, 2025
Early in 2025 and with funding provided by the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore and the Rural Maryland Council, SWED engaged BEACON at Salisbury University to conduct an Economic Impact Study on the Port of Salisbury.  The purpose was to highlight the importance and quantify the value of Maryland’s second largest port to our local economy. The Wicomico River and Port of Salisbury play a critical role in local supply chains, area industries, and overall economic activity. Review the Report Here.
September 19, 2025
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) cut the ribbon for the opening of its Part 147, FAA Certified Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) school at the Salisbury - Ocean City: Wicomico County Regional Airport. The program is the result of a collaborative partnership between Wicomico County, UMES, the State of Maryland and Piedmont Airlines. Piedmont and its parent company American Airlines, donated an Embraer 145 jet to the school. More than two hundred people attended the event.