​The FAA recently announced a long list of industry leaders selected to participate in two new FAA-industry workforce initiatives. The committees will come together to make formal recommendations on ways the federal government can encourage women and youth to pursue aviation fields.

The Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force will develop strategies and recommendations for the federal agency to encourage high school students to pursue aviation careers.  ATEC member representatives serving on the task force include Dr. Joel English, Executive Vice President of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Ryan Goertzen, Vice President of Workforce Development for AAR Corp, and James Hall, Dean of Aviation Technologies for WSU Tech.

The Women in Aviation Advisory Board will develop and provide independent recommendations and strategies to the FAA to explore opportunities for encouraging and supporting female students and aviators to pursue a career in aviation. An impressive roster of individuals were chosen as members of the Board, including ATEC member representative Suzanne Markle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and Stacey Rudser, Director for the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance.

Both groups were created in accordance with Section 612 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-254). The first WIAAB meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11 (see Federal Register notice). While the deadline for non-board members to request an invitation to attend the initial gathering, all meetings are open to the public. 

Thank you to those individuals that are volunteering their time to serve. We look forward to seeing the outputs and stand ready to support!

The ATEC Board supports the council's mission and provides leadership and strategic governance. Given term limits imposed by the council bylaws, several director positions will be available this fall. 

Duly elected directors serve a four-year term. Positions are available for representatives of both industry and part 147 schools. Nominations will be accepted through Sept. 1.

For more information on qualification requirements and to submit a nomination, visit the Board Nomination page. 

NORFOLK, Va. (July 21, 2020) – Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Norfolk campus (AIM) is proud to announce Harry Dugan as a recipient of a $2,500 scholarship awarded by the AMFA.  Each year, the AMFA awards two scholarships to Airframe and Powerplant students who stand out for their grades and application essay.  AMFA scholarship recipients must be currently enrolled in a program that is designed to prepare you to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test to obtain an A&P Certification, be U.S. Citizens, and apply with a 500-word essay about safety reporting in the aviation industry.  Winners are normally awarded scholarships in person, but due to COVID-19, this years’ plaques and checks were mailed, with campus visits to be scheduled at a later date.​

Dugan, originally from New Jersey, enlisted in the Army in 2007 as a Calvary Scout. After serving, he decided to pursue a college degree, which lead him to the aircraft maintenance industry.  Megan Lewis, the AIM, Norfolk campus Veterans Affairs Officer, says, “Harry Dugan has a strong maintenance background and thrives on hands-on learning.  Harry is involved in the campus Student Veterans’ Organization, boasts perfect attendance, and has a 4.0 GPA.  We are so proud of what he is achieving.”  Harry is scheduled to graduate in 2021 and is excited to see projected growth in his chosen field. 

After much deliberation and assessment by executive leadership and the Annual Conference committee, the trade association has decided to transition this year's in-person event to an online forum.

The Annual Conference, initially scheduled for March 29-April 1 and subsequently postponed to Sept. 13-16, will be held virtually this fall. The agenda will publish later this summer and will consist of shorter, online panels that will take place over the course of a week. Stay tuned for more information as speakers are confirmed and logistics finalized.

Registration fees for the event are $247.50 per person, a 50% discount off the in-person rate. All previously-registered attendees will be automatically enrolled in the virtual event (confirmations will be sent in the coming weeks) and provided a $247.50 credit that can be applied toward any future invoice, including registration for next year's event or to register a colleague for the online conference. To make alternative arrangements, or request a credit memo evidencing your account balance, email Tarra Ruttman at atec@atec-amt.org.

Registration for the virtual event will include:

• Access to all online sessions, both live and on-demand
• Electronic attendance certificate(s) evidencing your participation for each session, to support professional development requirements
• A printed version of the 2021 pipeline report and member directory

We are disappointed ATEC cannot facilitate an in-person event this year, but are very excited for the opportunity to provide an online forum for community engagement and the sharing of industry updates and best practices during these challenging times. And while we are not in a position to confirm dates for next year's Annual Conference given uncertainties surrounding the safety of large gatherings, please plan to join us in Fort Worth once we can ensure a safe and enjoyable event that meets the expectations of all involved.

Applications are now open for the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) scholarship program designed to help aspiring pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians (AMT) and airline managers to pursue their careers.

“Despite the pandemic, accelerated retirements will mean workforce shortages will return and become more acute when the industry recovers," said RACCA President Stan Bernstein. "This is not the time to stop your education and we need to ensure funding is available to help students overcome the barriers associated with the high cost of an aviation education. In recent years, we have helped students pursue AMT, airline management and pilot careers. Ensuring funding is available is an important part of the RACCA mission.”

The RACCA Aviation Scholarships were established for the purpose of promoting and assisting in pursuing aviation as a career choice and to make students aware of the opportunities in the air cargo industry. RACCA, representing 50 air cargo carriers, many of which feed the FedEx, DHL and UPS networks, provides scholarships to assist in the payment of tuition, flight training, or to obtain new or additional licenses. The organization makes four awards each year in November.

To qualify for the scholarships, applicants must be:

• A college student currently enrolled in an accredited aviation program.
• A resident of the United States.
• Currently carry a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Scholarship # 1 will carry the additional requirement of obtaining a letter of introduction from an existing RACCA member or RACCA associate member since the goal is for candidates to learn about the air cargo industry. If there is a RACCA member or associate member in a candidate’s immediate area, candidates should arrange to visit their operation and become familiar with all the opportunities in the growing air cargo industry. If there is no member close, candidates should call a member and tell them who they are and ask questions about the air cargo industry.

The deadline for applications is October 15, 2019 and the selection will be made by November 30 and distributed on December 15 to an accredited school.

The RACCA Aviation Scholarship application is available on the RACCA website at ​www.raccaonline.org/scholarship/.