Efforts to link traditionally under-represented populations with candidate-starved aviation workforce pipelines continue to expand; the latest example being year-over-year growth for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Aviation Directors’ Summit.
The second annual event, held recently in Houston and hosted by Texas Southern University’s Aviation Science Management program, attracted representatives from 12 passenger and cargo airlines—an increase over the 2021 event’s handful of participating carriers—as well as four branches of the U.S. military.
The two-day summit brought together directors from HBCU-based aviation programs and various industry representatives. Their primary focus: discuss and develop strategies to feed more students of color into employment pipelines that produce pilots and mechanics.
The 2022 summit marked another important first—participation from senior FAA representatives. The FAA’s participation is part of the agency’s efforts to spark interest in aviation carriers and provide opportunities for interested candidates. Recent government funding bills have authorized workforce development grant programs for colleges, universities, and certain other eligible organizations. The last two fiscal years have seen the FAA award $10 million annually for the grants, which are awarded to support pilot and technician development programs. The next round, also $10 million, is slated to begin accepting applications sometime in Spring 2023.
Recent awards ranged from $30,000 to $500,000 and were presented to universities and secondary school systems. Examples of projects funded by the grants include virtual reality simulators for prospective pilots; development of a high school curriculum on building and maintaining drones; and expanding an existing aviation maintenance technician education program with newer-technology training aids.
A 2021 Aerospace Industries Association/American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics workforce study found that 25% of industry employees identify as women and 30% are minorities, including 9.7% who are Black. The comparable figures within the U.S. pilot and certified aviation maintenance technician populations—arguably the ones experiencing the most acute shortages—are far lower. Tapping into these populations as part of broader recruiting and workforce development efforts are seen as important tactics to help fill pilot and mechanic workforce pipelines.
Many smaller U.S. airlines point to a shortage of qualified pilots, and captains in particular, as a primary growth headwind. A recent mechanic workforce report from the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) found that the number of newly certified airframe and powerplant technicians in 2021 fell short of 2019’s total. The ongoing gap means the pipeline must grow by 20% annually to meet projected 2031 demand; the current figure is about 2%, ATEC said.
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