ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration announced a collaborative effort to counter the national aircrew shortage, May 31.
This effort aims to ensure the continued and long-range health and safety of the aviation industry by collaborating to inspire a passion for aviation in the next generation.
“This collaborative effort will enable the Air Force and the FAA to work with industry partners to share best practices and find ways to get more people to fly,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson.
Through this effort, the FAA and Air Force will explore options and establish agency goals to address aviation workforce issues, with a particular focus on cross-agency collaboration. The work of this collaboration will identify and support solutions based in the following areas:
1) Priming the pipeline: What can be done to attract new people to critical aviation professions?
2) Pathways to proficiency: How can efficiency in training be maximized?
3) Productive partnerships: How can we promote productive partnerships with government, Department of Defense, academia and industry?
“The FAA is actively working to ensure we have the aviation workforce needed today and in the future. We also are working with our industry and government partners, like the Air Force, to ensure that we address any barriers to people realizing their dreams of becoming a pilot or aircraft mechanic,” said Dan Elwell acting FAA administrator.
The goal of this collaboration is to develop a more sustainable pilot enterprise that promotes aviation nationwide, increases pilot production, reduces barriers to enter the pilot career field and leverage technology and state of the art techniques to improve pilot training to meet the overall demands of the nation’s aviation industry.