US: Lawmakers propose bill to expand aviation maintenance workforce

A group of bipartisan lawmakers in the US House have introduced a bill to expand the ranks of skilled aviation maintenance technicians in the US. The bill, called the Aviation Maintenance Workforce Development Pilot Program Bill, is intended to stave off a looming shortage of maintenance workers by launching a pilot program that would allocate $500,000 in grants to aviation workforce development programs run by governments, industry and academia. “As a pilot and an ATP [airline transport pilot-certified commercial pilot], I have seen firsthand the importance of having a skilled workforce of aviation technicians and mechanics,” Rep. Graves said May 9 when the bill was introduced. “This legislation provides a viable path forward to address the skills gap and ensure the United States remains a world leader in the aviation industry.” The bill is similar to a bill introduced in the Senate in March, although the House bill would allow high school students to participate in the workforce development pilot program.<br/>