Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has received a $485,000 FAA grant to tackle the shortage of employees in the aviation industry by providing free training to high school students hoping to become pilots, drone operators, and aerospace engineers.
“The aviation industry is at a crossroads. The workforce needs are unprecedented,” said Dr. Colleen Conklin, assistant professor and executive director of Embry-Riddle’s Gaetz Aerospace Institute. “We believe programs such as this will directly feed the aviation workforce pipeline.”
This FAA-backed initiative, led by Embry-Riddle’s College of Aviation and Gaetz Aerospace Institute, includes developing online ground schools in private pilot and remote pilot operations, as well as courses in aerospace engineering.
The project also will incorporate desktop flight-training devices, small drones, 3D printers, and virtual reality systems at the high schools. Students will earn college credits, high school honors credits, and/or industry certifications.
The program builds on work by the Gaetz Aerospace Institute, which in the past two years has provided programs to nearly 200 middle and high schools, primarily in Florida. The institute offers dual-enrollment courses in aviation, engineering, and uncrewed systems, as well as the academy’s SMART@ER curriculum focused on courses and outreach in space, manufacturing, aerospace/aviation, robotics and technology.
The FAA grant will allow Embry-Riddle to share its education model throughout the country, starting with at least 10 more high schools.
“We are currently recruiting schools to participate and take advantage of this tremendous opportunity,” Conklin noted.
We, in Montana and the many rural communities of the state, would LOVE the ability to use this program, especially for our CAP (Civil Air Patrol) students. As a Senior Member of CAP, I know many of our cadets are eager to engage in any flying opportunities but we are severely underserved and lacking in resources. What can we do to apply or get more information?
Thank you!
Kent…I think you don’t understand the program.
It’s not the college campus Embry-Riddle program. This grant and program are designed to develop aviation interest and skills in high schools students. And having taught the ERAU high school curriculum for 7 years now, I can tell you that the impact on students who might never have thought about aviation as a career is immeasurable. Specifically, many students are in socioeconomic circumstances where aviation would never seem attainable…until we bring them career options through the Embry-Riddle high school program.
But you’re right–this is about supply and demand. There is not enough supply of aviation professionals and too much demand. This program will provide opportunities to our high school students to be part of the solution–increase the supply while improving their chances to have productive lives in an environment where that otherwise might not happen. It’s an investment, not a handout.
I am very impressed by all ERAU does. But they are definitely not poor. That grant is peanuts to them, and only adds to this nation’s nearly $32T debt, on a path to utterly destroy our economy. Let free markets work this out without confiscating more taxes from the private sector, the only source of wealth creation.