Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would diversify the racial and ethnic makeup of the American aviation industry.
The American Aviation Diversity Act would authorize $7.5 million in federal funding for the minority-serving institutions internship program with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The program serves as a pipeline to aviation careers for historically underrepresented minorities.
Historically underrepresented groups are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Blacks and African Americans, Indigenous Americans, Indigenous Hawaiians and Latinos.
The goal of the legislation is to develop a diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) work force, promote STEM training in fields that lead to employment in aviation careers for historically underrepresented groups, and addresses the underrepresentation of Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, and American Indian or Indigenous Alaskan workers in STEM.
The bill also highlights the domestic and international benefits of a diverse work force.
The FAA’s work force is 72 percent white. Historically underrepresented groups comprise 23 percent. The work force is 0.5 percent Pacific Islander, 1.3 percent Indigenous Americans, 9.7 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 11.5 percent Black or African American.
Increasing diverse representation in the aviation field will help increase minorities’ household income.
U.S. Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) introduced the bill.