The FY 2024 recipients of the Aviation Workforce Development Grants, under funding opportunities 23-FAA-AWD-AP and 23-FAA-AWD-AM, will help educate the next generation of aviation professionals across the United States in rural, suburban, and urban areas. A total of $13.5 million in grants were awarded. See the lists of ⇣ Aircraft Pilot and ⇣ Aviation Maintenance Technical Worker grant recipients in the tables below. You can also view the FY 2022 grant awards and FY 2023 grant awards.
Zoom in and select a location on the interactive map to see the Aviation Workforce Grants recipients. You may click on the list view ( 
) or full screen ( 
) options for additional details. Grantees are marked as recipients of either Aircraft Pilots grants (
) or Aviation Maintenance grants (
).
Aviation Workforce Development Aircraft Pilots Grant Awards
| Recipient | Location | Project Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County Community College | Washington, NC | Project will use a structured mix of in-person and online ground school teaching methodologies to reach a diverse student body upon successful completion of the ground school course and demonstrating proficiency in flying an FTD/simulator or drone. In addition to promoting the education of future airline pilots and creating a youth pipeline for potential aircraft pilots and drone operators in rural Eastern North Carolina, one of the poorest regions in the country, the program will address the lack of aviation opportunities for minorities and underprivileged students. | $374,930 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, NC | Project will support student development through activity components that are fully integrated to form a comprehensive support system. The project’s key components are Authentic Aviation Experiences, Technology-Rich Aviation Education Laboratory (TR-AEL) and Family Involvement. Students will have a chance to engage in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, flight simulator experience, discovery flight to enhance authentic and experiential learning experiences. The learning activities have been carefully designed to meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Science and Mathematics. The program will also feature the Family Café, a special interactive family involvement forum that will provide parents and other adult family members with information, resources, and support needed to become an active partner in their children’s education. Furthermore, the project will help kick start aviation program in two high schools located in underserved counties. | $500,000 |
| Fox Valley Lutheran High School Federation Inc | Appleton, WI | Project will build and deploy flight simulators to enhance aerospace education. These simulators will be integrated into the existing year-long Aerospace Engineering class and be used to initiate a new summer flight camp for upper elementary and high school students. The simulators' immersive experiences will bridge theory and practice, fostering improved learning outcomes and inspiring the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts. The program’s initiative seeks to instill a passion for aviation, facilitate hands-on learning and cultivate potential future careers in aerospace engineering. | $27,800 |
| Georgetown Independent School District | Georgetown, TX | Project will expand and enhance Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) curriculum and coursework for high school students and provide professional development for high school educators. The objectives of the program are to (1) redesign and implement existing courses and curriculum for high school students, (2) create and implement education for professional development programs, (3) develop and implement community-facing outreach programs for a diverse range of students, and (4) develop aviation career curricula and programs such as Blue Skies Ahead. | $462,208.95 |
| Harrisburg University Of Science & Technology | Harrisburg, PA | Project will alter the program’s delivery method to ensure the program is more convenient for high school teachers to gain a Remote Pilot Certificate and become vetted to teach the credit-bearing courses. The program will also expand the existing UAS curriculum to new geographies via a growing network of institutions and expand the curriculum to include career-specific UAS courses – Drones for Forensics and Drones for Agriculture. | $169,692.58 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville, IA | Project will aim to boost interest and enrollment in aviation programs, increase the availability of financial assistance and prepare area high school participants for high-demand aviation careers. The program's objectives are to (1) develop an aviation high school transfer program, (2) expand the current Drone Program, (3) develop a Rotary Wing curriculum, and (4) increase visibility of the applicant in the Aviation Training Industry. Courses will be developed to engage students from diverse backgrounds with the tools to pursue advanced education and careers in the aviation industry. The proposed project will open the first community college rotary-wing pilot program in the state. | $493,657 |
| Kent State University | Kent, OH | Project will train high school students to engage, nurture student interest in aviation careers and use manned/unmanned aircraft flights for in-person, virtual reality, and online media in northeast Ohio. These three media will be designed to capture, train, and develop teachers that will nurture student interest in aviation careers by teaching the next generation of aircraft pilots and UAS operators from differing socio-economic backgrounds, and especially focused on underrepresented and underserved populations. | $419,708.47 |
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA | Project will use a training curriculum developed by nationally recognized educators to train a diverse group of high school educators as small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) pilots and provide the resources and guidance for teacher to establish local training programs. This train-the-trainer model will develop a network of sUAS education efforts that serve a broad population of Louisiana high school students and guide growth into certified sUAS pilots. Strategic participant recruitment efforts will ensure engagement with public and private high schools in rural, suburban, and urban areas in the state. In addition, the ASPIRE program will incorporate case studies and mission planning workflows that highlight the applications of sUAS as tools that address challenges relevant to students' careers after graduation. | $476,643 |
| Ohio State University, The | Columbus, OH | Project will provide students with UAS knowledge, experience and actual flight proficiency skills that will advance students in the employable fast-growing drone industry. The program consists of two pillars to strengthen the delivery of drone education: teacher professional development and an unmanned aircraft systems aviation program for high school students. The overall objective is to (1) increase drone knowledge, (2) self-efficacy of teachers wishing to implement drone educational programs, and (3) increase the number of historically underrepresented minority students and rural students prepared for the drone workforce by pursuing a career in aviation. | $346,400 |
| Pacific Aviation Northwest, Inc. | Grants Pass, OR | Project will enable students from two local counties (Josephine and Jackson) and especially students from underrepresented rural areas to access training resources and expand educational/career opportunities, including will also expand the already established Part 61 flight school. As the project evolves, Pacific Aviation Northwest will aim to extend the program’s reach to neighboring counties in years to come. | $500,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Project will develop an innovative experiential learning pathway program for the next generation of pilots that meets the knowledge requirements of both crewed and uncrewed aircraft (UAS) pilots. The project’s innovative and sustainable program will engage teachers, parents, and students on a pathway to a career in aviation. The high school curriculum is portable, accessible, and low-cost. In addition, the program will use a train-the-trainer model that strategically uses innovative automated flight training and simulation technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence to engage students efficiently and effectively in experiential learning activities. | $383,824 |
| University Of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne, MD | Project will enhance teacher professional development that will culminate in an engaging aviation experience and educator certification as FAA Ground Instructors. The program will prepare and certify educators who can provide high-quality aviation education in high school classrooms. By providing teachers with the tools, knowledge, and certifications needed to effectively teach aviation subjects, the program will aim to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the aviation industry. Through the Aviation High School curriculum and the training of certified educators, the program will strive to empower the next generation of aviation professionals and will provide them with the foundation to excel in their chosen careers. | $345,136 |
Aviation Workforce Development Maintenance Technical Workers Grant Awards
| Recipient | Location | Project Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAR Aircraft Services, Inc. | Oklahoma City, OK | Project will expand beyond four maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities to include Landing Gear and Component Repair facilities located in Miami, Florida and Garden City, New York. In addition to expanding locations, the program will grow the number of apprentices by 100 through a combination of cohort hiring of female technicians, expanding the number of transitioning military personnel choosing aviation technical careers through AAR Aircraft Services Skillbridge program and expanding the number of high school students enrolled in the apprenticeship program. To accomplish the objective, the program will work with EAGLE Career Pathway schools to reach qualified candidates including women and students of color. | $500,000 |
| Aersale, Inc. | Coral Gables, FL | Project will create apprenticeship and scholarship opportunities for underrepresented citizens, focusing on economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, transitioning servicemembers, and historically marginalized groups. The Aersale ACE Academy will create pathways to become certified aviation maintenance technicians, such as the ACE Apprenticeship, which is a 90-day intensive program for technical training aligned with FAA standards and company policies. The program will encompass six state-of-the-art Part 145-certified repair stations, a robust training program, and established local partnerships. | $400,000 |
| Alabama Aerospace And Aviation Schools, Inc. | Bessemer, AL | Project will provide students the opportunity to complete the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic's License and/or Avionic Technician Certification. Objectives of the project are to increase the percentage of students who select, and successfully complete aviation maintenance technology prerequisite and elective courses required for aviation maintenance credentialing programs at the high school and post-secondary level. The Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School proposes to increase the school’s student population and connect the community's knowledge of aviation maintenance technology aligned postsecondary education options. | $398,375 |
| Cincinnati State Technical And Community College | Cincinnati, OH | Project will establish a high school aviation maintenance technician program in the Northern Kentucky portion of Greater Cincinnati, an area of more than 400,000 residents, 15 high schools and two career centers in both urban and rural settings that currently does not have convenient access to programming. | $493,277 |
| Clemson University | Clemson, SC | Project will expand the WE AIM program and specifically emphasize deployment in Opportunity Zones and high schools with TRIO programs. Through collaboration with community and student organizations, the team will identify best practices for targeting women, rural students, and other underserved populations. WE AIM will also build reporting and analysis features into the curriculum platform to ensure outcomes are achieved and continually assess student performance to improve training. Additionally, the program will remove barriers to adoption, develop and clearly communicate pathways available to students, scale and expand the program to an additional 1,000 students cross the United States through outreach and marketing, with a specific emphasis on reaching underserved communities. | $497,317 |
| Conway School District | Conway, NH | Project will expand and enhance Mount Washington Career & Technical Center's (MWVCTC) existing aerospace and aviation curriculum in alignment with the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Cluster defined by the New Hampshire Department of Education, the three sections of the FAA Airman Certification Standards requirements (General, Airframe, & Powerplant), manufacturers’ manuals, and post-secondary partner Nashua Community College (NCC) Aviation Technology (AT) program to foster a seamless transition from high school to post-secondary training leading to credentials in AT. Central to the curriculum will be experiential learning through the refurbishment of ESAvAc’s donated 1971 Grumman aircraft. The project will provide opportunities for economically disadvantaged rural students in order to expand the program. | $301,129 |
| DFC, Inc. | Woodland, CA | Project will launch an Apprentice program to allow students the opportunity to earn a living and gain valuable experience while getting the education needed to obtain an Airframe and Powerplant license. Key partners identified for the project were the Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor, Advanced Helicopter Services who will assist in transferring military occupations to FAA licensing, the local FAA which will conduct a needs assessment for veterans, and the local colleges with the airframe and powerplant programs who will provide support and apprentices opportunities for students. | $500,000 |
| Houston Community College System District | Houston, TX | Project will establish a comprehensive aviation maintenance technician program to address the growing demand for skilled aviation technicians in the region. The program will provide students with hands-on training and theoretical knowledge to become proficient in aircraft maintenance and repair. By partnering with industry experts and utilizing state-of-the-art facilities, Houston Community College will create a robust curriculum that prepares students for FAA certification and successful careers in the aviation maintenance field. | $431,284 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | Project will contribute to meeting the national need for aviation maintenance technology (AMT) workers by inspiring interest and increase access to AMT careers in southeast Iowa. Indian Hills Community College will conduct targeted AMT career outreach to youth, upgrade AMT training equipment for secondary and postsecondary AMT students, and provide financial support to postsecondary AMT students with barriers to completion. | $302,816 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs, IA | Project will amplify the region’s aviation maintenance technician workforce by 1) Sustaining and advancing outreach and recruitment campaigns designed to attract a diverse pool of candidates; 2) Expanding program capacity; 3) Enhancing student support services; and 4) Improving the educational experience through updates to instructional equipment and technology. Iowa Western Community College will ease the transition to careers in aviation maintenance for veterans, high school students, and adult job seekers from special populations historically underserved and underrepresented within the industry, as well as those residing in economically disadvantaged regions. | $500,000 |
| Joby Elevate, Inc. | Santa Cruz, CA | Project will provide a new accessible aviation maintenance technician career path, which will enable trainees to begin a paid mechanic apprenticeship immediately after completing the Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance (LSRM) certification program. This pathway allows for an aspiring aviation mechanic to earn wages while in training. After completing the paid 30-month apprenticeship, trainees will qualify to attain an A&P and gain further employment as a certificated aviation maintenance technician. This career pathway developed by Joby Elevate consists of five phases spanning 30 months in which students will be able to complete the LSRM certification program, complete a 12 month LSA apprenticeship rotation, complete an 18 month AAM apprenticeship rotation, submit the documented evidence package, complete certification exams and become a certificated A&P. The program proposes to make aviation maintenance technician careers available to more women, people of color, veterans, and underserved populations. | $500,000 |
| O.S. Johnson Technical Institute | Scranton, PA | Project will include the further development of a working airport-based training laboratory, pipeline recruitment activities for middle and high school students to stimulate interest in aviation maintenance technology careers, and student scholarships to assist students with financial aid. The curriculum and hands-on training supported will provide the knowledge and experience necessary for students completing the program to satisfactorily complete the written, oral, and practical tests required to be a certified Airframe/Powerplant mechanic. | $423,754 |
| Kenton County Airport Board | Hebron, KY | Project will increase the amount of exposure to aviation jobs, specifically aviation mechanics and have a positive impact on the workforce pipeline in the industry. The program will utilize the CVG’s (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport) Strategic Workforce Collaborative and will include regular outreach to local schools targeting historically disadvantaged populations. The dedicated staff members will develop the annual Education Summit and the Guide to Industry to increase educator awareness for High Schools, and further develop community outreach and expansion of the existing curriculum for elementary through high school. The program will also include the expansion of the existing Aviation Camp. | $450,000 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | Project will increase the number, diversity, and career readiness of aviation maintenance professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, including women, Hispanic and African American/Black students, first-generation, and low-income Pell-eligible students in the Chicagoland area. Project SOAR leverages key educational partners in diverse communities such as St. Augustine College (SAC) which is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and dual credit Township High School District 214. The program will expand outreach into Chicago’s economically disadvantaged geographic areas and provide immersive aviation maintenance experiences for high school students, strengthen existing dual credit programs, provide bilingual program information and outreach to Hispanic students and families, and launch career exposure opportunities. | $496,016 |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville, KY | Project will tackle scarcity of skilled aviation maintenance technicians and regional inequalities by providing an extended FAA-certified curriculum, interactive and engaging career workshops for middle school students, and targeted equity-focused sessions for high schoolers to produce highly prepared aviation mechanic technicians. The program will collaborate with educational institutions, industry experts, EAA Chapters, and local school districts. Maysville Community and Technical College will aim to empower students and cultivate a highly prepared aviation mechanic technician workforce bolstering the aviation sector. | $500,000 |
| North Dakota State College Of Science | Wahpeton, ND | Project will develop an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, develop collaborations with local/regional aviation organizations and facilitate FAA Part 147 Certifications. The program will build partnerships with local/regional aviation entities to facilitate the creation of dedicated lab and classroom spaces for instruction in aviation maintenance in Fargo, North Dakota. By the end of the project, North Dakota State College of Science will enroll its first cohort of aviation maintenance technicians. | $307,608 |
| San Bernardino Community College District | San Bernardino, CA | Project will leverage its existing relationships with local high schools and K-12 districts to expand the successful Aviation Mechanics/Airframe and Powerplant Technology program to serve an increased number of students. At the center of the project is the core goal of successfully preparing students to serve the anticipated demands of the U.S. aviation industry by providing the education required to gain the skills and training necessary to secure above-living wage career trajectories, potentially transforming the socioeconomic status and life trajectories of generations of marginalized people in the area. Primary goals of the program will focus on recruitment, registration and retention, program completion and student certification. | $498,555 |
| School Board of Miami-Dade County | Miami, FL | The project will enroll students in the Aviation Maintenance programs that prepares them to take the General, Airframe, and Powerplant Written, oral/practical examinations producing certified/licensed technicians. The project will partner with Pan Am Flight Academy, AerSale, Barfield Inc, and AAR Air Services and will engage high school and post-secondary level students. | $500,000 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, TN | Project will empower underrepresented and minority students for thriving careers in aviation maintenance. Through comprehensive educational initiatives supported by grants, the program will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, fostering a skilled and diverse workforce that meets industry demands while ensuring aircraft safety and reliability. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, the program will focus on increasing the presence of underrepresented groups in the aviation maintenance workforce. The project plan unfolds in five well-defined phases such as encompassing diverse student and teacher recruitment, high-quality instruction facilitated by experienced aviation instructors, the development of pertinent aviation maintenance courses, engaging aviation maintenance summer camps, and academic/career counseling to guide students on their aviation journey. | $500,000 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | Project will develop and implement a new aviation maintenance technician training program enhancing educational opportunities for a diverse group of students including those from underrepresented communities, economically disadvantaged areas, women, people of color, and training for separated veterans. The program will create a sustainable pipeline of aviation maintenance technicians to fill the need of the aviation maintenance industry and provide graduates with high paying jobs. The program will fill the workforce gap in the aviation maintenance industry by training students in the underserved area. | $499,869 |
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