By Daeshen Smith
Published: Mar. 20, 2026 at 3:24 PM CDT
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Forty-four students received certificates during a ceremony after completing the Flight Works Alabama FlightPath9 program at Bishop State.
The graduates mark 400 participants since the program started four years ago.
“I think it means 400 people that are being added to our workforce. 400 people that are helping us assemble airplanes and keeping so many of us and our families safe in the air, but I think it also shows the economic trajectory of our community and Airbus as well,” said Olivier Charles, president of Bishop State Community College.
The students come from different backgrounds. Some pursued a passion while others were looking to try something different.
“I’ve always been fascinated with planes and flying and the whole aspect of that and it just kind of fell onto me on a silver platter it was kind of hard to say no,” said Luke Kroll.
“I was in a design background. I grew up around aviation and engineering with my family. They work in multiple industries so getting this chance to be part of it myself was really cool,” said Chelsea Atienza.
Many of the graduates are from Mobile.
“Airbus is building aircraft and building people and that’s the important piece of this is they are investing in the future of the young people here,” said Mary Frances Clarke, managing director of Flight Works Alabama.
“I can’t emphasize it enough that local workforce, local development is the key to the site’s success here in Mobile,” said Nathan England, vice president A320 Mobile.
The graduates will start Airbus’ apprenticeship program on Monday. They will go through different parts of the assembly and test program as well as the build before joining a work team.
“Airbus is a huge company and one that likes to see the growth of its workforce and individuals not just here in Mobile but around the world so when we say the world is their oyster it absolutely could be from this point,” England said.