NBAA Joins in Call to House Leaders to Support Aviation Workforce Development Act

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) joins a coalition of 20 aviation companies and industry groups in urging leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways & Means to act swiftly in support of legislation to assist students pursuing aviation careers.

H.R.1818, the Aviation Workforce Development Act, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 college savings plans to be used for education-related expenses at FAA-certified private commercial-pilot and aviation maintenance technician schools, reducing financial barriers to entry for aspiring aviators and aircraft mechanics.

The House measure was introduced last month by Reps. Mike Collins (R-10-GA), Mike Kelly (R-16-PA), Jimmy Panetta (D-19-CA), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-9-TN). A similar bill by Sen. Tim Scott (R-NC) is expected to soon be introduced in the Senate.

The letter to committee leaders can be read at https://nbaa.org/wp-content/uploads/professional-development/workforce-initiatives/HR-1818-Coalition-Letter.pdf.

“The bipartisan group of co-sponsors, combined with the coalition of industry and labor support, suggests consensus about the commonsense nature of this policy,” says the May 10 letter to House Ways & Means Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-8-MO) and Ranking Member Rep. Richard Neal (D-1-MA).

The letter goes on to note that “H.R. 1818 [will address the] growing need for aviators and aircraft mechanics by giving Americans the same tools to choose a career in aviation as those seeking four-year degrees. With this legislation, Congress can deliver a win for American families, the aviation industry and workers and consumers of air services.”

In addition to its strong support for H.R.1818, NBAA also welcomed last month’s introduction of The Flight Education Access Act (H.R.2874), which would increase the federal student loan limits under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for students in flight education and training programs.