The FAA recently awarded $10 million to schools around the country to educate aspiring aviation professionals.
The Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development Grants and the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants were awarded to accredited higher-education institutions, high schools, state and local governments, and flight schools.
Half of the $10 million will be directed to schools to develop the next generation of pilots. The other $5 million is anticipated to be used to train and educate the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians.
“Our investment in the aviation workforce of the future must begin today,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a statement. “These grants help nurture interest in aviation at an early age to build a career during one of the most dynamic times in aviation history.”
Development of Pilots
Schools can use the funds to create and drive curriculum to prepare students to become aviation professionals such as: aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, or unmanned aircraft systems operators.
The main goal of this program is to establish a pipeline of pilots amid projected shortages in the industry.
The grant recipients are:
- Florida State College, Jacksonville, Florida: $498,000
- Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Michigan: $90,000
- Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina: $269,000
- University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota: $488,000
- County of Scottsbluff School District #16, Gering, Nebraska: $500,000
- Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Flushing, New York: $498,000
- Aerotrek Flight Academy LLC, Wadsworth, Ohio: $77,000
- Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: $491,000
- Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: $135,000
- Spartanburg County School District #5 (James. F. Byrnes High School), Duncan, South Carolina: $31,000
- South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina: $425,000
- Florence School District One, Florence, South Carolina: $339,000
- Crowley Independent School District #912, Crowley, Texas: $139,500
- Utah State University, Logan, Utah: $238,500
- Randolph Macon Academy, Front Royal, Virginia: $307,000
- Old Dominion University Research Foundation/Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Norfolk, Virginia: $474,000
Development of Aviation Maintenance Technicians
The schools selected to develop the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians can utilize the funds to create new educational programs and/or award scholarships or apprenticeships to aspiring aviation professionals.
One of the goals of the grants is to support educational opportunities related to aviation maintenance in economically disadvantaged areas.
“A career as an aviation maintenance technician opens a wide world of opportunity. These grants will allow us to reach and support individuals who may not have had the chance to pursue this exciting career before,” FAA Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims said in a statement.
Grant recipients:
- Macon County School District, Tuskegee, Alabama: $425,000
- Pima County Community College District, Tucson, Arizona: $490,000
- North Orange County Community College District, Anaheim, California: $250,000
- San Bernardino Community College District, San Bernardino, California: $400,000
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Washington, D.C.: $450,000
- DLK Aviation Inc., Kennesaw, Georgia: $250,000
- Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, Iowa: $475,000
- Southern University at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana: $500,000
- Dutchess Community College, Fairview, New York: $450,000
- Guilford County School System, High Pint, North Carolina: $45,500
- Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio: $250,000
- Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma: $450,000
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, Pennsylvania: $214,500
- South Carolina Department of Education, Charleston, South Carolina: $250,000
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Madison, Wisconsin: $100,000
