Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said the agency would open two aviation and maintenance grant programs lawmakers said would bolster the industry’s workforce.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) expressed support for the decision in the wake of urging the FAA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to fully implement the programs and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians.
“A strong aviation workforce is critical to America’s economy, supporting not only this important sector but all the other economic activity that relies on the aviation industry,” Collins, chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee and King noted via a joint statement. “These programs, which were first enacted by Congress two years ago, are a vital tool to help bolster our nation’s aviation workforce. We look forward to seeing these funding programs open before the end of the year so that Maine students can benefit from the opportunity to explore potential careers in aviation-related fields.”
Collins and King served as cosponsors of a measure designed to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years, permitting funding for all FAA programs – including FAA operations, research and development, aviation programs, extension of expiring authorities, airport planning and improvement, and noise compatibility programs.