September 16, 2024

On Sept. 12, ARSA joined nearly 130 organizations across multiple industries and academia in urging U.S. congressional leaders to fully fund federal workforce programs.

“Employers are already facing workforce challenges. Impending waves of retirements from older workers, competition for workers across industries, and inadequate access to worker supports like childcare will exacerbate the existing demand for workers,” the group’s letter to House and Senate leaders said. “In order to address the immediate and long-term needs of businesses and workers, Congress must support robust investments in skills.”

The group advocated for appropriations legislation that:

(1) Funds federal workforce programs at robust levels.

(2) Provides dedicated funding for industry or sector partnerships.

(3) Expands Pell Grants to high-quality short-term training programs.

ARSA members benefit from improved technical training of all kinds. From short-term programs to aviation maintenance training school completion to full engineering curricula, maintenance providers compete for talent among and between every technical industry in the world.

The association’s workforce advocacy produced technician workforce grant programs that must be appropriated funds at the higher levels authorized by Congress in this year’s FAA reauthorization law. ARSA’s team will continue this broad push for skills investment will working to bolster specific programs – including regulatory improvements – serving aviation maintenance interests.

To read the complete letter, organized by Business Leaders United, click here.

Aug. 29, 2023

Business Leaders United, an initiative of the National Skills Coalition, has requested maintenance industry support for its policy initiative to improve digital skills training and resources. ARSA supports the effort as part of its broader effort to bolster competency based training and improve open access to resources (with limited regulatory hand-wringing over “emerging” technologies) and encourages its members to consider signing on.

New technologies can make workplaces of any kind more efficient. Repair stations may utilize digital record storage, tablet interfaces for task cards or work orders, or computer-based management of materials storage as some examples of resources that improve administrative functions in support of work performed under the aviation safety rules. Despite these kinds of tools becoming common for technical employers, data shows most of the workforce does not have the skills or experience to use them effectively.

To improve digital training resources and awareness, BLU is seeking business sign-on to a letter to U.S. lawmakers show general support for better skills policies. The letter does not include specific policy suggestions and signing on does not equate to endorsing any legislation, but rather endorses a set of principles that would close the digital skill divide such as job-related digital skills training and improving access to broadband, hardware, and equipment.

Review the following text and consider signing your company on in support. For questions and to participate, contact BLU Manager Jeran Culina.

Principles for Closing the Digital Divide

The pandemic demonstrated the value of connected technology and that Americans must be empowered to adapt to technology’s constant evolution in the workplace.   

America needs a comprehensive strategy to close the digital skill divide. As the nation implements historic investments in closing the digital divide, the supporting organizations encourage decisionmakers to consider five principles that can support Digital Equity at Work: 

(1) High quality hardware in all hands. The pandemic laid bare the connection between access to notebooks, laptops, and other connected devices and access to education, training, jobs, healthcare, support services, and social networks. 

(2) Every community connected. Broadband is a foundational service to which all Americans must have access. 

(3) A digital skill foundation for all. Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. need to build foundational digital skills to harness the power of the Internet through connected devices. Every person should have the opportunity to develop broad-based, flexible digital problem-solving skills for current technologies and ongoing technological shifts.  

(4) Upskilling for every worker in every workplace. Technology is impacting nearly every industry and occupation in different ways. We can empower workers with industry- and occupational-specific digital skills to adapt and advance in their careers.  
(5) Rapid reskilling for rapid re-employment. Each industry has specific technical demands. Overnight the pandemic brought structural shifts to our labor market, reminding us that America’s workers must have access to rapid reskilling to move from one industry to another.  

To see ARSA’s general activities related to workforce, career, and skill development, review the years’ worth of updates below. For questions about the association’s work in particular or support for BLU, contact Brett Levanto.

September 13, 2022

In June, the White House issued its “Talent Pipeline Challenge” to stimulate workforce development programs in transportation infrastructure. The program builds on investments made by Congress through laws like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan by pushing employers, educational institutions, government entities and philanthropic organizations to build career opportunities for underrepresented groups.

According to the program pledge, it encourages employers to partner with schools and community organizations, utilize apprenticeship programs and invest in recruitment incentives like tuition assistance or child care. With support from state and local governments using federal funds, these partnerships should provide new or bolster existing opportunities to expand workforce pathways.

ARSA has lent its support to the pipeline challenge through the National Skills Coalition’s Business Leaders United (BLU) program. The association has signed on to an effort encouraging the Biden Administration to continue pushing for local strategies to effectively train workers for in-demand jobs. This community-focused model is key to the ongoing success of the aviation workforce grant programs created during the most-recent FAA reauthorization and will remain a central driver of good workforce policy at the U.S. federal level.

The association encourages members to get involved in the initiative in one of three ways:

(1) Take the pledge. Though the White House specifically identifies the construction, broadband and electric vehicle sectors, the partnerships encouraged by the Talent Pipeline Challenge can serve all of the technical trades. By standing up for robust, equitable career opportunities, repair stations send a clear message about the vitality of the industry. Click here to get started.

(2) Broadly support local collaboration. The National Skills Coalition is collecting signatures in support for the Talent Pipeline Challenge. Separate from pledging to participate, companies can show the importance of focused workforce development policy from the executive branch: Advocating for effective use of existing federal funding. Email BLU Manager Jeran Culina to include your company (supporting organizations will not be listed publicly).

(3) Get ideas. The White House fact sheet includes multiple examples of programs stimulated by the challenge. Review them, look for potential partners or ideas for your own community-based collaboration.

As always, include ARSA in your communications and planning. The association always celebrates good investment in aviation professionals of the future and will help amplify your work to serve all.

April 27, 2022

On April 19, ARSA joined hundreds of organizations interested in skills development on a letter to U.S. House and Senate Leadership seeking expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to shorter-term education and training programs.

Federal Pell Grants are a form of U.S. government financial aid to students at undergraduate universities and similar post-secondary education programs. Grants generally do not have to be repaid and are available to those meeting eligibility requirements in amounts dependent on their expected family contribution (e.g., how much money the student can pay according to financial information submitted to the government), the cost of attendance determined by their school/program and their enrollment status and timeframe.

Pell Grants can currently be used only for programs totaling at least 600 hours over 15 weeks. According to the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, available evidence indicates that low-income adults in particular would benefit from access to Pell Grants for short term credentialing programs. Unfortunately, efforts to expand eligibility have met roadblocks because of perceived issues with the value, e.g., earnings impact, to students. As described in the letter, including short term training leading to a recognized credential in grant eligibility would expand program access and allow students to balance their personal and professional obligations while quickly transitioning into advanced careers.

“Expanding Pell Grant eligibility to shorter-term education and training programs will help create affordable and accessible pathways to postsecondary credentials for tens of thousands of students,” the letter said. “Eligible programs must be determined as in-demand and demonstrate wage progression for graduates. They must also be aligned with a recognized postsecondary credential, meet employer hiring requirements including for licensure or certification, and articulate for credit to support longer-term career pathways.”

For aviation employers, embracing skills built through such credentials – particularly those that are “stackable” with other certifications or accreditations – can open doorways for non-certificated individuals to advance rapidly into aircraft technician roles. Such program graduates make for model entry-level personnel and could potentially transition quickly into repairman certification or other career development tracks. In supporting broader availability of Pell Grant funds, the population of students who could quickly turn their education into employment readiness would dramatically increase.

To read the full letter, click here.

June 18, 2018

On June 14, ARSA joined more than 400 other organizations on a letter to Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) urging swift action to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Perkins is federal government’s primary investment mechanism for skills-based education programs – enabled through state-administered grants administered by the Department of Education. As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), Sens. Alexander and Murray can move forward with consideration of the bill.

“Because employers are reporting a shortage of skilled workers to fill in-demand positions, ensuring that secondary and postsecondary institutions offer modern, quality and relevant career and technical education (CTE) programs remains a leading priority so that we can develop and grow our nation’s workforce,” the letter said. “As competition for high-skilled labor increases and as the U.S. economy reaches full employment, every effort must be made to close the skills gaps that many industries across all sectors face.”

In 2017, the House unanimously passed the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act (H.R. 2353).” That bill was largely similar to a previously-popular attempt to reauthorize Perkins – also in the House – and would enhance flexibility for how states use grant funding as well as increase the engagement of local employers in administering skill development programs.

Whether the Senate considers H.R. 2353 or develops its own legislation to be reconciled with the House version, the letter encouraged lawmakers to consider the same tenets:

• Align CTE programs to the needs of the regional, state and local labor market.
• Support effective and meaningful collaboration between secondary and postsecondary institutions and employers.
• Increase student participation in work-based learning opportunities.
• Promote the use of industry recognized credentials and other recognized postsecondary credentials.

Get Involved

Members of the aviation maintenance community can support skills development by including Perkins reauthorization in any outreach to their Senators: Use the ARSA Workforce Legislation Action Center to help move forward the association’s bill to create an AMT workforce grant program, then include general CTE program support in that outreach.

Maintenance providers can also help spread the word by using the Perkins coalition social media tool kit (either through company accounts or by distributing to employees).

To read the full letter, click here.