Forty aviation and aerospace groups sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Office of Management and Budget in support of a pilot education grant program and an aviation technical workforce grant program. In response, the House Appropriations Committee has approved $5 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2020 and authorized the programs for five years, as proposed in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.
U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois) and Sam Graves (R-Missouri) were leading supporters in the House, along with Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) in the Senate. The Appropriations Committee said it supports “increasing the strength and number of aviation professionals who are well-trained and can be relied upon to make air travel safe and efficient.”
The pilot education grant program is for high school students, designed to provide curriculum and training for STEM, while the aviation technical workforces grant program includes scholarships and apprenticeships, establishes new training programs, and funds equipment for schools. It also supports career transitions for members of the armed forces. A vote by the full House of Representatives is expected by the end of the month.