On November 17, 2025, the DART-funded Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Apprenticeship at Joby Aviation officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the Monterey Bay region’s effort to build equitable, high-quality career pathways in advanced aviation. This inaugural cohort represents the first implementation of a carefully designed 18-month, earn-and-learn apprenticeship, developed to prepare participants for long-term careers in aircraft maintenance while meeting the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility industry.

The program launched with three funded apprentices from the Monterey Bay region, reflecting a deliberate focus on local talent and inclusive access to careers that have historically been difficult to enter without prior exposure or financial flexibility.

A Deliberate First Cohort: Quality Before Scale

Unlike short-term training programs, the AMT Apprenticeship is a substantial, 2.5-year investment. Apprentices are paid while receiving hands-on, on-the-job training aligned with the technical competencies required for taking the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification exams and continuing career opportunities at Joby. Because of this depth, the program was intentionally launched with a small cohort.

The goal of this first round is simple: get it right before scaling.

By piloting the program with three apprentices, partners can refine curriculum integration, mentorship structures, wage progression, and certification alignment, ensuring the model is sustainable and effective before expanding to a larger cohort in future rounds.

Opening Doors to Career Paths

For the inaugural apprentices, the program represents more than a job, it’s a discovered career pathway.

“I didn’t even know this kind of career was an option,” shared one apprentice. “To be able to earn a paycheck, learn directly on the job, and work with a company like Joby Aviation is something I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s opened a door I didn’t know existed.”

That sentiment captures one of the program’s core objectives: demystifying careers in aviation and making them accessible to individuals who may not have followed a traditional aerospace or engineering pathway.

Connecting the Pathways

The future of the AMT Apprenticeship seamlessly dovetails with DART’s RV-12 Airplane Build Lab in partnership with Pajaro Valley High School, creating a clear, connected aviation pathway that begins in high school and extends directly into industry.

Launched in partnership with Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the RV-12 Build Lab is a groundbreaking Career Technical Education (CTE) experience: building a full-scale aircraft from the ground up. The program uses the same RV-12 aircraft used in the AMT Apprenticeship, creating direct continuity between classroom learning and real-world maintenance training.

Part of a Larger Vision

The AMT Apprenticeship is a flagship initiative within DART’s broader advanced aviation workforce strategy, supported by catalytic state investment through California’s Jobs First framework. The program builds on DART’s long-standing mission to align industry, education, and community partners around family-sustaining jobs of the future, particularly in emerging low-altitude economies.

By grounding the pilot cohort in the Monterey Bay region, the program also reinforces a commitment to place-based workforce development, ensuring that local residents can participate directly in the growth of next-generation aviation industries.

Looking Ahead

As the first cohort progresses through the 18-month program, lessons learned will directly inform the design of the next phase. With a refined, proven model in place, partners plan to expand the apprenticeship to serve a larger group of candidates, scaling impact while maintaining quality and rigor.

For now, the focus remains on the three apprentices who took the first step on November 17, setting the foundation for a program designed not just to train workers, but to transform access to aviation careers in the Monterey Bay and beyond.