The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has welcomed the introduction of legislation to establish a program that would carry out public service campaigns for workforce development in the transportation sector, including business aviation.
The bill – H.R. 5118 – was introduced by Reps. Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), Don Young (R-AK) and Angie Craig (D-2-MN), and will “increase awareness of career opportunities in the transportation sector, including aviation pilots, safety inspectors and technicians, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, truck drivers, engineers, transit workers, railroad workers, and other transportation professionals.” The legislation also seeks to increase diversity of workers in this sector.
“The United States transportation industry, and in particular the aviation industry, is facing significant workforce challenges,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We applaud Chairman Larsen, Congressman Young and Congresswoman Craig for introducing this important bipartisan legislation that will help attract the next generation of transportation professionals at a time when they are most needed.”
NBAA recognizes the growing shortage of qualified professionals in the transportation industry, and is proactively working to address the challenge. For the aviation industry, Boeing projects that 804,000 new pilots and 769,000 new maintenance technicians will be needed worldwide over the next 20 years.
“NBAA is dedicated to developing the next generation of transportation professionals,” noted Bolen. “We look forward to working with Congress, and other stakeholders, to address this pressing issue.”
The association urges members to directly contact their elected officials in Washington, DC to support this legislation by using NBAA’s Contact Congress resource. It is critical for members of Congress to hear directly from constituents about the importance of this proposal and need to grow the transportation workforce.
