Boeing Partners with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Offer Scholarships for Future Pilots and Aviation Maintenance Technicians

March 7, 2019
Boeing establishes a $3 million permanent endowment for scholarships at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to assist students interested in pursuing a pilot’s license and certificates in aviation maintenance.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced plans to establish a $3 million permanent endowment for scholarships at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to assist students interested in pursuing a pilot’s license and certificates in aviation maintenance.

The Boeing scholarships at Embry-Riddle – the premier aviation and aerospace institution – will seek to increase the number of underrepresented populations in the pilot workforce, particularly women and persons of color as well as veterans.

The announcement was made during the 18th Annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit.

Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and leading aircraft manufacturer, will collaborate with Embry-Riddle to make scholarships available as early as this fall.

Speaking at the 18th Annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit, Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg emphasized the need for increased collaboration within the global aerospace industry to address the growing demand for commercial pilots and technicians.

"It's essential that industry and higher education work together to increase the pipeline of aerospace talent. Our partnership with Embry-Riddle demonstrates Boeing's commitment to the continued growth and diversification of the global aerospace industry," said Muilenburg. "Through this grant, we'll help more students – with more diverse backgrounds – learn with greater efficiency and perform more effectively once on the job."

“Boeing and Embry-Riddle share a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said University President Dr. P. Barry Butler. “Like the aviation industry, Embry-Riddle has a truly global presence. To meet future workforce needs and accelerate innovation, it is critical that we tap into the entire potential talent pool. Transformative business solutions spring from diverse teams that empower many different perspectives around the table. We are honored to partner with Boeing to provide educational opportunities for a broader spectrum of aspiring aviators.”

According to Boeing's 2018 Pilot & Technician Outlook, the industry will need 790,000 new civil aviation pilots and 754,000 new maintenance technicians to fly and maintain the world fleet over the next 20 years. The forecast is inclusive of the commercial aviation, business aviation and civil helicopter industries.

Of the 609,306 pilots certificated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Aeronautical Center in 2017, only about 7 percent, or 42,694 are women, according to Women in Aviation International. Statistics on other underrepresented groups in aviation are limited, but a 2014 report suggested that 2.7 percent of U.S. airline transport pilots were people of color, 2.5 percent were of Asian heritage, and 5 percent were Hispanic or Latino.

The $3 million award to Embry-Riddle builds upon Boeing’s long-standing support of STEM programs, women, military veterans and minorities. In 2018 alone, Boeing contributed a record $284 million to build better communities worldwide.

About Embry-Riddle

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the world's largest and most comprehensive aviation and aerospace university. Embry-Riddle engages in extensive research and consulting that address the unique needs of aviation, aerospace, and related industries.

Residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., provide education in a traditional setting, while Embry-Riddle Worldwide provides instruction through both online and face-to-face methods via a network of education facilities designed to support student advancement in the U.S. and abroad.

All academic programs at Embry-Riddle are approved for veterans' educational benefits and are accompanied by personalized academic advisement.