Airline Experts Encourage High School Pathways to Aviation Industry

Sep. 20—Airlines can talk about workforce opportunities with as many high school students as they want, but without adult support and collaboration, they won't attract as many students to the industry.

That's according to Glenn Ponas, the director of high school outreach at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Ponas was one of four experts who discussed high school and collegiate pathways to the aviation workforce during the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania's 2022 conference, held at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.

The session came as many airlines across the country face a shortage of pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers.

Aviation officials were encouraged by Ponas to strategically collaborate with regional influencers such as government officials and school superintendents to encourage aviation opportunities for high school students.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association offers a free four-year aviation curriculum to districts across the country, Ponas said. He'd like to see more Pennsylvania districts utilize the curriculum, he said.

"We're seeing a tremendous benefit (from the curriculum) all across the United States," he said.

It is important for airlines to build a workforce within their communities and keep kids in the area, Ponas said.

Other panelists agreed.

David Heath, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said needs for the drone industry and traditional aviation industry are "everywhere."

"In Pennsylvania, the way for us to succeed is to capitalize on the rural regions," Heath said.

Roxanne Ober, the director of admissions and outreach at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, said she believes many high school educators don't fully understand the career opportunities in the aviation field.

The PIA works to organize airline tours for high schoolers.

"We get into schools, and most teachers say, 'I never even knew this was an opportunity. I didn't even know that aviation was a field that we should be educating our students about,'" Ober said.

Technical schools like the PIA equip students for the aviation industry, problem solving and troubleshooting, Ober said.

"I have seen lives changed (through the PIA)," she said.

The conference, which began on Sunday, will conclude on Tuesday.

Maddie Aiken is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Maddie by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

___

Visit The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) at www.triblive.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.