U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe recently announced Oklahoma was awarded two grants totaling nearly $1 million to establish aviation workforce development programs.
These grants are the first ones awarded under the new programs Inhofe created in Section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-254). Inhofe worked closely with then-President Trump to establish two grant programs, one for Aircraft Pilots and one for Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers. The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and Oklahoma State University received nearly $1 million combined in grant funding from these programs.
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission was awarded an Aircraft Pilots grant totaling $491,000. This funding will be used to launch a statewide program that includes the training of teachers and the delivery of the “You Can Fly” Pilot and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Pathway High School Curriculum to students. This curriculum will provide high schools with Aviation and STEM laboratory equipment and/or supplies to ensure the implementation of meaningful aviation education. Through the program, the OAC will host eight Regional Aviation and STEM Days for students as well as a high school Pilot Day.
“I have and always will be an advocate for preparing the next generation of pilots,” Inhofe said. “With this Aircraft Pilots grant, Oklahoma students will have ample professional development opportunities to become future leaders of the aviation industry.”
“The Aeronautics Commission is grateful that FAA selected our grant application on behalf of the State of Oklahoma for the Workforce Development Grant Program. This was truly a team effort from across the state and we are excited to get started with developing the next generation of pilots, engineers, and UAS operators to help further the state’s second largest industry, aviation and aerospace,” said Grayson Ardies, Oklahoma State Director of Aeronautics.
Oklahoma State University was awarded an Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant totaling $450,000. This funding will be used to establish a sustainable pipeline of training to address the needs and priorities of Oklahoma’s aviation maintenance workforce. These maintenance professionals make up a significant sector of the aviation and aerospace industry that drives Oklahoma’s economic growth.
“Supporting the aerospace industry in Oklahoma and nationwide through research and development, as well as workforce development, has long been a priority at Oklahoma State University,” said Dr. Kenneth W. Sewell, OSU’s Vice President for Research and President of OSU’s Research Foundation. “OSU’s programs in aviation education and in aerospace engineering provide the backbone of this support, and the new FAA workforce development grant will serve to amplify our impact.”
Source: press release