Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force - Welcome Remarks

Thank you, Angela. Good morning, everyone.

Aviation has come roaring back from the pandemic. And the growth and innovation we're seeing in the whole aerospace sector continues to be astounding.

This industry needs to recruit the next generation workforce. That means reaching young people early and showing them the career possibilities. Otherwise, we'll lose them to other careers. Thanks to the work you've done, we are well positioned to bring more young people on board.

I thank all of you for serving on this Task Force … also thank the Chair, Sharon DeVivo, for your leadership … and Angela Anderson for serving as Designated Federal Officer.

Two years ago, you all came together to help address the workforce shortages in the aviation industry … and meet a specific purpose - to encourage high school students to pursue careers in aviation … find ways for them to get the technical education and training needed … and also identify apprenticeships, mentoring, and other pathways for them to be successful.

Your work has been essential. This industry needs new pilots … air traffic controllers … aviation maintenance technicians … and many other professionals.

The need was there before the pandemic. Now it's even greater, as COVID-19 hastened the retirements of many people throughout the industry.

But we also need skills that we didn't need even 10 or 20 years ago - we need drone pilots, cyber security specialists, data analysts, and more.

And we're making historic investments to strengthen aviation's infrastructure and fight climate change while creating countless jobs in the process.

Indeed, this is an exciting time to be in the aerospace field!

It's hard to predict exactly how this industry will evolve in the next decade. But as Abraham Lincoln once said, "the best way to predict the future is to create it."

Because of your work, we're in a position to create a future in which we have a highly skilled, diverse workforce that's ready to succeed in this dynamic sector.

Your insights and recommendations will help the aerospace community improve its career and education outreach efforts … particularly for people in underserved communities … and also look at funding opportunities to develop careers.

We want the doors of aviation and aerospace to be open to people from ALL walks of life. When we have people with different backgrounds … perspectives … and skill sets … we will be MORE successful.

We will make better decisions … innovate at greater rates … and solve problems faster. At the FAA, we know that having a diverse workforce makes aviation safer.

This past June, the FAA launched a media campaign titled "Be ATC" to get the word out far and wide about becoming an air traffic controller. Social media influencers helped us reach millions more.

We received five times more applications and a much more diverse applicant pool than in previous years - exceeding our own expectations.

Later this year, the FAA will award a second round of workforce grants - totaling $10 million -- to develop future pilots and aviation maintenance technicians.

We've also partnered with Historically Black Colleges and Universities … and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities … and we've connected with Tribal Nations too.

The FAA runs a robust Minority Serving Institutions intern program with about 200 student participants this year from across the nation. And we've adopted a dozen elementary schools around the country, introducing 4th graders to aerospace careers and concepts.

It's essential that the whole aerospace community works together to multiply our outreach efforts and make them more effective. Your recommendations will help us do it!

Again, the FAA and the Department of Transportation deeply appreciate the countless hours you have all devoted to this Task Force. And we will consider your recommendations fully.

Thank you!

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