Regional Business Aviation Groups Award Scholarships to Build Industry Workforce Pipeline
Why It MattersRegional scholarship networks are becoming a structural pipeline for business aviation staffing, supplementing national efforts as operators face ongoing workforce shortages.
Regional business aviation associations across the United States are running scholarship programs aimed at easing workforce shortages by training the next generation of pilots, maintenance technicians, schedulers and dispatchers. The Georgia Business Aviation Association (GBAA) recently surpassed $1 million in total scholarship funds awarded over more than 20 years, according to Will Leveille, a Chick-fil-A flight department captain who chairs the GBAA scholarship committee. Its scholarships support high school and college graduates as well as continuing education recipients across a range of business aviation roles.
Elizabeth "Scottie" Hutson, who was introduced to flying by her grandfather, former Navy pilot and later Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 captain Tony Manzo, received GBAA scholarships four times while earning her professional pilot ratings and CFI certificate at Auburn University; she now serves on the GBAA scholarship committee herself.
In the Chicago area, Bombardier Challenger 350 pilot Steve Kowalski, involved with the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) since 2010 as a Lewis University student, now co-chairs CABAA's scholarship committee with Tim Hameister. He said the group's offerings have grown to include financial scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $8,000, a professional development scholarship, three SIC type ratings, two or three maintenance training awards, and two flight attendant scholarships. At least two dozen regional business aviation groups operate across the United States, alongside a separate scholarship program run by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
