The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently testified at a U.S. House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce hearing, which covered hiring high-skilled employees in the aviation industry.
Nearly 100,000 pilots will be needed in the next two decades, according to a Boeing study highlighted in NBAA’s testimony.
“NBAA has heard from its members of the significant challenge in finding and retaining qualified pilots and technicians,” Scott O’Brien, NBAA senior director of government affairs, said. “We applaud the subcommittee for taking the initiative on this matter and look forward to working with Capitol Hill and members of Congress to develop solutions to this challenge.”
In written testimony, NBAA said it costs between $51,000 and $81,000 for flight training tuition, making it prohibitively expensive for many. The association urged the subcommittee to find a solution and suggested altering federal financial aid guidelines to cover non-collegiate flight schools.
NBAA Charities annually provides students with $100,000 in scholarships for aviation programs. Careers in Business Aviation Day at the annual NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition draws more than 1,000 students.
The Securing and Revitalizing Aviation Act of 2018 would provide grants for aviation education. H.R. 5701 would provide grants for technical skills. NBAA urged Congress to pass both.