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

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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 Aviation Workforce Development Act to address the critical shortage of pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians in the U.S.
The bipartisan legislation aims to make aviation education and training more affordable by expanding the use of 529 savings plans to cover expenses at FAA-certified pilot and mechanic schools.
Supported by various industry stakeholders, the act seeks to attract new talent by providing financial incentives, ultimately helping to meet demand and restore air services impacted by the labor deficit.

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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.