Lawmakers address growing concerns over aviation workforce shortages

Jo Damato, senior vice president of education, training, and workforce development with NBAA, testified about barriers faced by those pursuing aviation careers. She mentioned that "the FAA reauthorization bill will help remove barriers for those seeking aviation careers while expanding the aviation workforce pipeline."

The bill requires implementing recommendations from advisory boards aimed at addressing challenges like early awareness of careers and cultural factors. Damato shared her personal experience with gender-related obstacles in flight school.

Matthew “Monty” Montgomery from Louisiana Tech University expressed concerns about flight schools' ability to meet demands due to funding and resource limitations. “These areas are critical,” he said regarding overcoming bottlenecks and ensuring quality training programs.

Damato agreed and highlighted an example where a parent struggled to find a designated pilot examiner for their child’s licensing needs.

Dave Spero of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists raised concerns about reductions in FAA's technician workforce affecting maintenance times. He pointed out that there is often only one technician servicing multiple radar sites over large distances.

Michael Robbins from Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International warned about potential setbacks in advanced air mobility due to regulatory delays. Robbins stated that without proper frameworks, innovation would be hindered and industries unable to scale effectively.

Robbins also emphasized the need for increased staffing at FAA to support emerging sectors like drones and advanced air mobility vehicles.