Pilots Propel Students into Aviation
By Gene Trainor, FAA Compliance and Airworthiness Division
To help bridge the employment gap in aviation, FAA employees are inspiring students to pursue aviation and aerospace careers.
These employees are part of the FAA’s Science, Technology Engineering, and Math (STEM) Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) program established to expose students to aviation and aerospace careers and to promote STEM education. Participating employees are part of a broader program designed to introduce students to aviation careers involving airports, air traffic controllers, aviation maintenance technicians, unmanned aircraft systems (drones), pilots and space.
You may be surprised to learn that many pilots work in the government sector. The FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service, for example, employs up to 30 flight test pilots, about half of whom fly helicopters, along with other aircraft. Their job includes evaluating helicopter safety and determining if the aircraft, parts, electronic systems, or other equipment or procedures meet FAA standards. Base pay ranges from $83,458 to $129,384, depending on qualifications and experience, with locality increases from 15.95% to 41.44%.
Aviation job opportunities are on the rise. The expectation is that the need for aviators will outpace needs in other occupations. According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for helicopter pilots and other commercial pilots (excluding airline pilots), expect to grow “much faster than the average for all occupations.” The Bureau also reports that “the number of commercial pilot jobs is projected to increase in various industries, especially in ambulance services.”
The median annual wage for commercial pilots in May 2020 was $93,300, which compares favorably to the median pay for all occupations at $41,954 a year, given a 40-hour workweek.
Despite these competitive pay rates and demand, the industry still struggles to fill positions due to the current lack of available pilots.
This potential shortage and the opportunity for well-paying jobs is why U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson reached out to the FAA’s STEM AVSED Adopt-a-School program to promote aeronautical careers among students in her Dallas-area district.
The FAA Adopt-a-School program encourages FAA personnel to get involved to share personal knowledge and aviation experience with educators and students. The program matches the aviation skills, expertise, knowledge, and resources of the FAA with the needs of the educational objectives of local schools. The FAA identifies Adopt-a-School locations in each region. Two years ago, schools in Maryland and Texas participated in a limited pilot of the program. This year, at least one school per FAA region will participate. In the Southwest Region, for example, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Rep. Johnson’s district in Texas, the FAA will adopt the 580-student Atoka Elementary School in Atoka, Okla., that serves a high percentage of Native American students. The Southwest Region may also add a Dallas Independent School District campus.
The program selects schools based on their diverse populations, proximity to FAA facilities, and the proximity of potential industry partners. Dallas School District representatives and other educators recommended a group of 4th graders to participate in the program since students often start thinking about future careers by the time they enter middle school.
In 2022, the Adopt-a-School pilot lesson will focus on introducing 4th-grade students to various pilot careers and the solutions they provide. The lesson will review the different types of training and skill requirements for pilots, the types of aircraft they fly, and the different work they perform.
“We’re really excited about it,” said Janet Scott, FAA Adopt-a-School Southwest Region Program Lead.
The speakers will encourage students interested in aviation careers to do their best in STEM-focused and aviation-focused curricula. “These subjects will help them with their paths to success,” Scott said.
FAA pilots who want to volunteer and people who want to learn more about the Adopt-a-School program can email program leaders at 9-APL-FAAEducation@faa.gov. Or contact a STEM AVSED regional program analyst at the nearest FAA regional center. See the website to learn more: faa.gov/education.
Gene Trainor works as the communications specialist/executive technical editor for the FAA’s Compliance and Airworthiness Division.
