The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a new initiative to get feedback from academics and the airport community to determine how to create and enhance academic programming to meet the current and future needs of the airport industry.
The research will result in published guidance to airports and the academic community for the next generation of airport executives and employees.
In announcing the initiative, the FAA notes the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that more than 750,000 aviation professionals, including pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and airport professionals will be required to meet the global industry’s needs by 2036. Other research with human relations professionals in the industry reveals that less than 30 percent believe current aviation/airport education and training is very effective, the FAA says.
This project’s multi-disciplinary team of academia and industry tasked with coming up with the published guidance is led by The Ohio State University, along with experts from ICF, Pavlik & Associates, Quadrex Aviation, DPrather Aviation Solutions, and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Interested participants from the airport community are invited to visit the project’s website at http://acrp0607.com, join the project mailing list for routine updates, and complete a survey of their airport workforce needs and how academia can contribute to enhancing the future airport workforce.
