Huge numbers of experienced pilots and technicians are set to retire within the decade, without an adequate pipeline of young talent to ease the looming shortfall.
Jamail Larkins has been ringing alarm bells for years. In April, the Federal Aviation Administration’s official ambassador for aviation and space education launched a career-resource platform called AviationStart aimed at connecting aspiring aviation professionals with relevant scholarship and training opportunities.
“AviationStart was created as a resource for anyone to get their questions answered regarding aviation careers,” Larkins tells FlightGlobal at the NBAA show in Las Vegas on 15 October.
”We don’t want people to think that just because your parents don’t fit in a certain tax bracket, you don’t have the capability of getting into aviation,” he adds. “For people just trying to get their foot in the door, they have no idea where to look.”
AviationStart is a one-stop resource containing information on how to connect with organisations such as NBAA, EAA and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), as well as local and state aviation groups such as flying clubs.
On 15 October, AviationStart launched a new AI-driven tool to help users navigate the multitude of potential career pathways.
”In April, when we first launched, you had to search through this massive database,” Larkins says. ”But starting today you can type in a few things and it will tell you every single scholarship option you’re eligible for.”
The platform builds of Larkins’ DreamLaunch Tour, first launched in 2005, which returns this year with a 20-city itinerary across the USA.
To date, about 7,000 users have registered for a free account with AviationStart, which is available for young people seeking to jump-start their careers as well as those seeking mid-life career change resources.
