A career in the skilled trades is often the last option on high-school graduates’ minds, as attending a four-year college has long been considered their logical next step toward a rewarding career. But with the cost of college tuition soaring, the value of a bachelor’s degree in question, and sky-high demand for skilled tradespeople leading to more robust salaries and greater job security, more young people are enrolling in trade schools than they have in years.

Elevate MRO, a division of Elevate Aviation Group (EAG), announces the opening of a new aircraft maintenance center at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) in Denver. This expansion includes increased staff and maintenance teams to support the existing client base and enhance aircraft maintenance service availability while supporting Elevate Jet’s management, charter and aircraft sales capabilities.

Metro Aviation is growing its list of capabilities with the creation of Metro Gulf, a new division that adds fixed-wing aircraft to the company’s extensive list of completion services. The new division holds its own Part 145 certificate and will provide maintenance, repair and avionics services to Metro’s existing fixed-wing and rotor-wing fleet as well as external customers.

SmartSky, provider of advanced in-flight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, announces the issuance of an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for SmartSky LITE on the King Air 350i. The in-flight WiFi system has received multiple industry accolades, including the 2024 Aviation Week Laureate award and Robb Report’s first-ever Best of the Best in aviation for cabin connectivity.

The Aircraft Electronics Association's Educational Foundation announces the names of 26 individuals who were awarded scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. The AEA Educational Foundation annually awards scholarships to students pursuing a career in avionics or aircraft maintenance, as well as students from AEA member companies.

CAE inaugurates its first Gulfstream-dedicated business-aviation training center, which will be a key component to training more pilots and maintenance technicians over the coming decades. The maintenance training program, which will include state-of-the-art virtual reality, will be offered on Gulfstream G280, G650 and G500/G600 business jets. The Savannah facility is CAE’s fifth business-aviation training center in the United States.

A new area for youth aviation activities, located in the Vintage Aircraft Association area on the EAA grounds, is the latest addition to the expanding youth and family activities taking place at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention and air show is July 22-28.

The Hartzell Service Center in Piqua, OH, is introducing a purchasing program for used, serviceable propeller cores and serialized parts directly from aircraft owners, fleets and MROs. The enhancement aims to help reduce overhaul lead times while giving customers more buying options when acquiring parts.

West Star Aviation announces that after a multi-year succession planning process, a new executive leadership structure has been named.

Results from the world's first in-flight study of the impact of using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on both engines of a commercial aircraft show a reduction in soot particles and formation of contrail ice crystals compared to using conventional Jet A-1 fuel.