Combining two affiliated goals, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao recently announced the inception of “Forces to Flyers,” a research program designed to connect veterans with pilot training and simultaneously augment the commercial workforce.
The initiative is planned for a three-year scope and falls under the auspices of the DOT’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Research indicates that by 2035, the North American airline industry will need 112,000 more pilots than currently exist, according to a 2016 Boeing survey.
One of the program’s areas of focus will be supporting and increasing air service to rural and small localities. Research participants will assess training and employment obstacles while overseeing training guidelines.
“In order for America to continue to be a world leader in aviation, we must search for ways to address our country’s pilot shortage, invest in our Nation’s workforce, and ensure that our veterans have the support they need as they transition to the next phase of their careers,” Chao said.
DOT officials predict that interested veterans can obtain all the training necessary to become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) or Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFI-I); then become eligible for employment as a flight instructor during further training.
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