Wes Bedsole always knew the traditional college route wasn’t for him.
He preferred tools over textbooks, and from an early age, he spent time working with his hands alongside family.
That mindset steered him to Coastal Alabama Community College, where he joined the school’s aviation program—and that decision launched his career.
He found his rhythm in the sheet metal class.
The precision, the measuring, the structure—it all clicked.
That passion led him to apply for an apprenticeship with Airbus, and now he’s working at the company’s massive facility in Mobile, building aircraft and building a future.
An Apprenticeship That Opens Doors
The program Wes joined wasn’t just about classroom hours. It was hands-on, real-world training that gave him experience before he ever stepped onto Airbus property.
Once he got there, the momentum didn’t stop. He stood out, kept growing, and turned that opportunity into a full-time job.
For Wes, the work at Airbus feels like the right fit. “Everyone there wants to see you succeed,” he said.
That environment—combined with the skills he built at Coastal—gave him everything he needed to step into a career he loves.
Aviation Education That Delivers
At Coastal Alabama, Wes learned from instructors who had years of experience in the field.
They didn’t just teach—they passed down everything they knew from their time working on aircraft themselves.
“They really molded us to be the aircraft mechanic that they were,” Wes said.
And he’s not the only one. According to Coastal Alabama’s Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, Josh Duplantis, nearly 90% of apprentices who go through the program complete it successfully.
And almost all of them are still working in those jobs two years later.
Big Wins for Local Talent
For educators like Duplantis, success stories like Wes’s are exactly what they hope for. “Taking local talent from right here and pairing them with a company like Airbus—that’s what we want to see,” he said.
That kind of outcome helps strengthen the workforce, creates better career pathways, and gives young adults another route to success outside of a traditional four-year degree.
Skills That Last a Lifetime
Wes’s story is one example, but it’s part of a much larger trend. Programs like the one at Coastal Alabama are designed to prepare students for real careers.
Not just jobs—to build something long-term. And as more students discover the value of learning a trade, programs like these are gaining serious traction.
“You can’t go wrong with learning a skill,” Duplantis said. Wes is living proof.
With a strong start in aviation, supportive mentors, and a clear career path, he’s gone from the classroom to the hangar floor—and he’s just getting started.
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