Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 46

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BEHIND EVERY CLOUD IS A SILVER LINING. SO TAKE
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effective vaccine or treatment over the
coming months.
" The need for pilots will return
well before the full market recovery in
RPMs due to significant future annual
pilot retirements. The industry alone
will need an average of 4,100 new pilots
per year and cumulatively, more than
80,000 pilots will be needed in the next
20 years to replace retiring pilots. The
return to normal growth will require
pilots too, nearly doubling this number.
These large age-65 pilot retirement
numbers will shorten the downturn in
pilot hiring by a year or possibly two for
major airline pilot hiring. The approximately 5,000 early pilot retirements
from the recent airline/union furlough
reduction programs represent over a
year of normal retirements. "
Feeling a little better? Another
indicator of the bullishness on the
future comes from the FAA and its new
Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development
Grant Program.
In fiscal year 2020, Congress appropriated $5 million to create and deliver
a training curriculum to address the
projected shortages of aircraft pilots. In
short, the FAA is investing in the future
aviation workforce by establishing a
grant program to expand the aviation
workforce and provide meaningful
aviation education designed to prepare
students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, or unmanned aircraft
systems operators, and support the
related professional development of
teachers.
Congress approved the program
through the end of fiscal year 2023. It
is providing grants to academia and the
aviation community to help prepare a
more inclusive talent pool of pilots and
aviation maintenance technicians, to
inspire and recruit the next generation
of aviation professionals.
46

FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Projects supported under the aviation workforce development grants
must create and deliver a curriculum designed to provide high school
students with a meaningful aviation
education that prepares them to become
aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, or
unmanned aircraft system operatorsas well as to support the professional
development of teachers using the
above curriculum. Access to this grant
funding is not available to individuals
but to air carriers; Part 61/141 flight
schools; accredited higher education
institutions, secondary schools, or high
schools; state and local governmental
entities; and organizations representing aircraft users, aircraft owners, or
aircraft pilots.
The pot is certainly sweet for those
who apply in a competitive process.
The FAA may award between $25,000
and $500,000 for any one grant in any
one fiscal year.
Anyone interested should research
the Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grant Program website (faa.gov/
about/office_org/headquarters_offices/
ang/grants/awd/); a listing of personal
scholarships and grants also is available
(faa.gov/education/grants_and_
scholarships/).
Although the hiring outlook is
gloomy now, the FAA and industry
watchers like Darby already are seeing
glimpses of that silver lining. Take comfort in that and keep preparing for the
day when the sun breaks through.
Oh, and about Rebecca: She landed
a multi-month gig flying Cessna 172s
for an aerial survey outfit to stay active.
That's great advice for those sidelined
waiting for the call to training-keep
flying! FT
WAYNE PHILLIPS manages the Airline Training
Orientation Program (atopjets.com).

http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/ http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/ http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/ http://www.faa.gov/education/grants_and_scholarships http://www.faa.gov/education/grants_and_scholarships http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard http://www.atopjets.com

Flight Training - January/February 2021

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