Schools Nationwide Receive $13.5 Million in FAA Grants to Develop the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals

Thirty-two schools are the recipients of $13.5 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help attract and train students for careers as pilots and aviation maintenance technicians.

Twelve of the schools will receive $4.5 million from the FAA’s Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development grants program. The schools can use the funding to create and deliver curriculums designed to prepare high-school students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or drone operators. Grants may also be used to support the professional development of teachers.

Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development grant recipients include: 

• Beaufort County Schools, Washington, NC: $374,930 
• Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC: $393,142 
• Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, WI: $27,800 
• Georgetown Independent School District, Georgetown, TX: $462,208.95 
• Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Harrisburg, PA: $169,692.58 
• Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, IA: $493.,657 
• Kent State University, Kent, OH: $419,708.47 
• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA: $476,643 
• Ohio State University, Columbus, OH: $346,400 
• Pacific Aviation Northwest, Inc., Grant Pass, OR: $500,000 
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN: $500,000 
• University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD: $335,818 

The other $9 million will go to 20 schools as part of the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development grants program. These grants will help build back the pipeline of maintenance professionals; approximately 20,000 fewer people are working in the aircraft maintenance sector than before the pandemic. 

Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development grant recipients include: 

• AAR Aircraft Services, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK: $500,000 
• Aersale, Inc., Coral Gables, FL: $400,000 
• Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, Bessemer, AL: $398,375 
• Central Louisiana Technical Community College, Alexandria, LA.: $500,000 
• Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati, OH: $493,277 
• Clemson University, Clemson, SC: $497,317
• Conway School District, Conway, NH: $301,129 
• DFC, Inc., Woodland, CA: $500,000 
• Houston Community College System, Houston, TX: $402,284 
• Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA: $302,816
• Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, IA: $500,000 
• Joby Elevate, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA: $500,000 
• Kenton County Airport Board, Hebron, KY: $479,000
• Lewis University, Romeoville, IL: $496,016
• Maysville Community and Technical College, Maysville, KY: $500,000
• North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND: $307, 608
• O.S. Johnson Technical Institute, Scranton, PA: $423,754
• San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, CA: $498,555
• Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN: $500,000
• Thomas University, Thomasville, GA: $499,869

Recipients can use the funding to establish new educational programs; provide scholarships or apprenticeships; conduct outreach about careers in the aviation maintenance industry; and support educational opportunities related to aviation maintenance in economically disadvantaged areas.  

For additional details about the grant recipients, visit https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/awards.