House Bill Aims To Boost Aviation Workforce Development

Under the bipartisan bill introduced Tuesday, students could pay for aviation training with their 529 education savings plans.

Amelia Walsh

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 02:08 PM ET

Verified

The Aviation Workforce Development Act aims to attract more Americans to careers as pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians. [Courtesy: Adobe]

Key Takeaways:

Congress introduced the bipartisan Aviation Workforce Development Act to address the critical shortage of pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians in the U.S.
The legislation aims to make aviation education and training more affordable by allowing students to use their tax-advantaged 529 savings plans for relevant programs.
Expanding 529 plan usage to include FAA-certified pilot and mechanic schools is intended to incentivize more Americans to pursue these careers and meet industry demands for qualified professionals.

See a mistake? Contact us.

In an effort to draw more Americans to careers as pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians, Congress introduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act on March 28.

The bipartisan legislation would make education and training more affordable by allowing students to use their 529 savings accounts for aviation-related industries. 529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans designed to help pay for education. Initially, the plans could only be used for degrees at four-year universities.