AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Spokane County Forget license plates. Some inmates at the Airway Heights Corrections Center are training for jobs in the states huge aerospace industry.

About a dozen inmates are enrolled in a program that will make them certified aerospace-composite technicians. Their goal is a post-prison chance to land jobs at companies like Boeing and its suppliers.

There is a strong shortage of people to be aerospace composite technicians, said Chad Lewis, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections.

The idea is that former inmates who have good-paying jobs are much less likely to return to prison, he said.

To be sure, the prison system still has job training in traditional inmate fields like upholstery and furniture making. But there was no good reason to ignore aerospace, Washingtons largest manufacturing sector, with jobs scattered across the state.

We wanted to teach offenders something relevant to the local job market, Lewis said.

Taught by instructors from a local community college, the inmates must earn 49 college credits to be certified. They are in class six hours a day, five days a week, and the program takes a year to complete at the medium-security prison in this suburb of Spokane. The classes are unique because they offer a combination of book learning and hands-on experience making composite materials. That combination makes abstract concepts easier for students to grasp and retain.

The first class of inmates will graduate in January.

It has been a positive experience for inmate Richard Syers, of Spokane, who dropped out of school in the sixth grade but has been earning As and Bs in the new program, which includes rigorous courses like trigonometry.

Syers, 42, hopes to move to Western Washington when he is released in 2 years and continue training for a job in aerospace.

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Prison inmates training for aerospace work

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sep 21, 2013) - Bombardier Aerospace, the global leader in business aviation and the world's third largest civil aircraft manufacturer, will attend Aviation Expo/China 2013 to meet current and potential customers, further strengthen its long-term relationships with partners in the growing Chinese aviation industry and showcase its innovative range of aircraft and services.

Bombardier has identified China as one of the key growth markets that are part of its geographic diversification strategy. Dating back to the 1970s, Bombardier's involvement in China's aerospace industry has grown to include a significant fleet of business and commercial aircraft, as well as an increased focus on development and manufacturing opportunities. Most recently, in June 2013, Bombardier and COMAC signed a definitive agreement covering four projects as part of their long-term collaboration on leveraging commonalities between the C919 and CSeries airliners.

Over the next 20 years, Bombardier forecasts 2,420 business jet deliveries in Greater China, driven by the gradual removal of barriers to business jet ownership and operation, the acceleration in the opening of airspace for civil aviation and significant investments in airport infrastructure. With its comprehensive product portfolio and commitment to leadership in customer satisfaction, Bombardier continues to grow its leadership position in the business jet manufacturing industry. There are approximately 100 of Bombardier's Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets in operation in Greater China, representing a market share of approximately 34 per cent.

In its latest market forecast for 2013-2032, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft predicts that operators in Greater China will take delivery of 2,330 aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat commercial aircraft segment, making it the second most important region following the United States. More than 40 of Bombardier's commercial aircraft are currently in operation in Greater China with China Eastern Airlines, China Express Airlines, China United Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and UNI Air. Bombardier's Q400 NextGen turboprop, CRJ NextGen regional jets and all-new CSeries airliners, the first of the new generation of narrowbody commercial aircraft to complete its maiden flight, are an ideal complement to China's domestic products and deliver the low operating costs, operational flexibility and reliability to meet the fleet expansion needs of Chinese operators.

Putting customers first locally, globally

Bombardier is committed to putting its customers first by offering the highest level of support as close as possible to their operational bases. As a part of its commitment to operators in China, Bombardier operates a localized customer service network, including a team of Field Service Representatives and Customer Support Account Managers, four Authorized Service Facilities, Regional Support Offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and neighbouring Singapore, as well as two established parts depots in Beijing and Hong Kong. In addition, Bombardier continues to explore opportunities to increase its customer support presence in strategic locations across China.

Aviation Expo/China 2013 runs from Wednesday, September 25 to Saturday, September 28. Bombardier Aerospace's exhibit, which is located in the China National Convention Center (CNCC) at U1-1, will be closed on Saturday, September 28.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montral, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

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Bombardier Aerospace to Attend Aviation Expo/China 2013