Aerospace industry launches recruitment Web site

The aerospace industry has taken to cyberspace to attract a new generation of students to careers in engineering and other related sciences, a move designed to help deal with a looming workforce crisis.

The site - www.LaunchintoAerospace.org - features information on industry internships and colleges that offer aerospace-related degrees, as well as a primer about the industry and its product lines. The site also includes dozens of resources on everything aerospace-related, from learning to fly to exciting student competitions.

"The aerospace industry has many exciting projects on the drawing board," AIA president and CEO Marion Blakey said. "From building space vehicles to go to the moon and Mars to state-of-the-art bomber and fighter jets to super-sonic business jets, there is no shortage of amazing new programs for today's forward-thinking students."

A video titled "Ride the Leading Edge" features three young engineers in different areas of the industry talking about the excitement and challenges of their jobs, as well as the lifestyles the well-paying positions provide.

Recent statistics show the aerospace workforce is aging, with almost 60 percent of workers age 45 or older. Many of these employees are eligible to retire, and more are becoming eligible all the time. This means there will be excellent job opportunities in an exciting high technology industry that pays very well and offers many choices.