JOIN OUR MISSION AT THE NEW CENTRAL COAST CAMPUS
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the foundation of the Planes of Fame Air Museum’s growing Central Coast campus. As we establish our presence in Santa Maria, our volunteers play a vital role in shaping the visitor experience, supporting museum operations, and helping bring this new campus to life.
Serving as a volunteer at the Central Coast campus offers a meaningful and rewarding way to contribute to aviation history in the region. You’ll help us welcome guests, support events and programs, and be part of building a museum community from the ground up.
While many other volunteer organizations require strict time commitments, our approach is flexible. We simply ask that volunteers aim to contribute around 8–10 hours per month, allowing you to stay engaged while still fitting volunteering into your schedule.
Joining our volunteer team is just a few steps away:
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You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. A few volunteer positions may accept younger volunteers (minimum age 16 years) provided they are always under the on-site supervision of a parent or guardian.
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You must reside in the Central Coast region (Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, or northern Ventura County) in order to volunteer at the Planes of Fame Air Museum’s Central Coast Campus. We do not currently offer any "remote" volunteer opportunities.
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Complete a Volunteer Application (see below). We’ll review your application and send you an acknowledgment via email. Note: Parent/Guardian of 16 or 17 year old volunteers must also complete application.
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Attend Volunteer Orientation. During Orientation, you will be asked to sign several legally-binding documents. You will also identify the areas where you wish to volunteer (see Job Descriptions below).
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Attend training for your specific assignment(s). Adhere to safety requirements for your specific job assignment and general safety guidelines applicable to all volunteers.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER, CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND FILL OUT THE NEW VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM:
Upcoming Volunteer Orientation: Join us for our first Volunteer Orientation meeting! (NEEDS EDITING)
When:
Where:
Details: The session will last about 2 hours.
Brief Volunteer Job Descriptions:
Museum Guide: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Museum Guides play a key role in guest relations, providing engaging information about the museum’s history, aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts. Comprehensive training is provided, including classes, self-study materials, and on-the-job experience.
Exhibit and Hangar Monitor: Scheduled and flexible shifts and on-the-job training are provided. Exhibit and Hangar Monitors provide essential support on the museum floor, helping ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. In this role, you’ll walk through exhibits, assist guests if needed and help maintain a welcoming environment by monitoring visitor activity and gently reminding guests of museum guidelines. This position does not involve giving tours, but you’ll play a key role in connecting visitors with the right person for more detailed assistance. On-the-job training and classes will be provided.
Gallery Attendant: Scheduled and flexible shifts. (NEEDS EDITING)
Gift Shop and Admissions Support: Scheduled shifts. Support in the gift shop includes helping with daily operations, processing in-store and online orders, and assisting with admissions as needed. A screening interview is required, and on-the-job training will be provided.
Special Event Support: Special Event support helps assist with a variety of tasks before, during, and after events. This includes setting up and breaking down event spaces, greeting and directing guests, providing information, and supporting staff. This position is hands-on and flexible, offering the chance to be part of exciting events such as the Central Coast AirFest and other museum programs. Training and guidance will be provided.
Living Historian: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Living Historians are individuals who wear historical clothing or military uniforms and interact with the public to help history come alive. They complete a basic level of training and provide their own historical "impressions" (i.e. clothing, gear) to explain concepts, historical items or events.
Education Program Assistant: Scheduled and flexible shifts. As an Educational Program Assistant, you’ll help support a variety of museum educational events, including Hangar Talks and other interactive programs. In this role, you’ll assist with event setup and guest engagement, helping ensure visitors have an informative and memorable experience. This is a hands-on opportunity to be part of unique, educational experiences that bring aviation history to life. Training and guidance will be provided.
Youth Program Guides: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Youth Programs Guides conduct aviation-related arts and crafts projects, demonstrations of basic aeronautic principles, and answer questions related to aviation technologies and aviation careers. Youth Programs Guides must be able to work with children of all ages. Training classes, self-study, and on-the-job training provided. Volunteers ages of 16 and 17 are accepted provided that they work with parent or guardian supervision.
Library and Research: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Library and Research staff catalog our ever-growing number of books and periodicals and assist visitors in using the library. They also conduct historical research on behalf of the Museum for use in displays and presentations.
Flight Operations-
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Aircraft Restoration to Flight: This role offers the unique opportunity to work closely with operational aircraft and contribute directly to keeping historic planes airworthy. Aircraft restorers will assist with enhancements and maintenance on the museum’s flying aircraft. This hands-on position requires prior experience in aviation mechanics or related fields, and all participants must complete the required training courses to ensure safety and proficiency. A screening interview is required.
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Static Restoration Maintenance: Flexible hours are available on Saturdays initially, with potential for weekday shifts. Static aircraft maintenance focuses on the care and cleaning of the Museum’s static aircraft displays, helping preserve these historic planes for all visitors to enjoy. Training is required and will be provided, and volunteers must complete a screening interview. There is room to advance to more complex static aircraft maintenance as additional courses are completed. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 are welcome when working under parent or guardian supervision.
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