The US mega-carrier, American Airlines announced this week that it is awarding $337,000 to 17 aviation-focused schools and organizations around the USA that are dedicated to training the next generation of aviators. The grants are an example of the airlines continued efforts to help grow and diversify the nation’s pool of pilots.
“We believe we’re making the pilot profession more visible, accessible and obtainable to a broader range of people than ever before,” said Captain David Tatum, Director of Pilot Recruiting and Development for American.
Grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 will be awarded to 17 organizations throughout the U.S., many of which assist low-income and minority students. Those selected to receive awards proposed projects such as enhancing aviation-related curriculum by building flight simulators and aviation labs, adding dozens of computers for new pilot courses, and providing students with flight books, manuals, calculators, maps and plotters.
This year’s recipients:
Ada City School District – Ada, Oklahoma
Admiral Farragut Academy – St. Petersburg, Florida
AOPA Foundation – Frederick, Maryland
Community College of Beaver County – Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Civil Air Patrol – Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
CR Smith Museum – Fort Worth, Texas
Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School – Cleveland, Ohio
Dixie County High School – Cross City, Florida
East Syracuse Minoa High School – Syracuse, New York
East High School “T-STEM” Academy – Memphis, Tennessee
Infinity Flight Group – Trenton, New Jersey
Joseph New Heights Aviation – Joseph, Oregon
National Society of High School Scholars – Atlanta
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum – Charleston, South Carolina
Steubenville High School – Steubenville, Ohio
V.R. Eaton High School – Haslet, Texas
Wellsboro Area High School – Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
With this news, American’s Flight Education Grant program, now in its second year, has awarded 34 grants totaling $789,000 to flight schools, nonprofit organizations, and middle school, high school and college-level organizations that generate innovative and creative ideas for growing and diversifying the nation’s pool of pilots. In April, the airline launched the American Airlines Cadet Academy, a first-of-its-kind program providing aspiring pilots of all backgrounds with the opportunity to receive the training, financing and mentoring opportunities necessary to fly for the world’s largest airline.
(Photo American Airlines)
