Finding qualified aircraft maintenance personnel is becoming increasingly difficult and has led one recruiting firm to go on the road. Aerotek St. Louis recently held a job fair in Kansas City to recruit more than 100 aircraft mechanics, technicians, inspectors and engineers for a defense contract.

“Our client, Sierra Nevada, is looking for specific skills, and the Kansas City/Wichita area has a pool of qualified people,” Josh Rainey, an Aerotek recruiter, told AIN. “Applicants for the position must be able to get a secret security clearance and move to Denver for a one-year contract; however, [the company prefers candidates] who would be interested in permanent relocation.”

Reno, Nev.-based Sierra Nevada, an electronics, engineering and manufacturing integrations company that is fielding Embraer’s Super Tucano (against the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6) for the bitterly contested U.S. Air Force LAS contract, is ramping up to fulfill an unspecified military contract. The successful candidates will be employed by Aerotek and assigned to the client’s Denver facility to work.

“We got a few interested people; however, we still have to fill 75 sheet metal openings, 30 to 35 avionics spots and a handful of quality inspector, A&P mechanic and engineer positions,” Rainey said.