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Aug
26
2024

AUVSI Testifies on Capitol Hill About Recruiting, Retaining, and Engaging the Aviation Workforce of the Future

Posted 99 days ago ago by Admin

In July, AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins was invited as an expert witness to testify before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee at a hearing focused on the aviation workforce. At the hearing, Robbins highlighted to key members of Congress some of the workforce opportunities and challenges ahead for the drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) industries.

Enhancing U.S. Leadership in Advanced Aviation

“To safeguard our position as the world leader and to recruit, retain, and engage the aviation workforce of the future, we must continue to advance the policy and regulatory framework to integrate advanced aviation technologies,” Robbins said in his remarks. 

He added: “We are at a pivotal moment in aviation history, with drones and AAM aircraft unlocking significant benefits in both safety and technology leadership. With those benefits will come significant economic activity and workforce opportunities."

Drone and AAM companies are opening high-rate production facilities across America and creating thousands of high-quality manufacturing jobs to build the aircraft required to meet current and future demands. These industries are also opening aviation careers to a broader and more diverse workforce, including workers with physical disabilities, those without advanced technical degrees, and rural workers who do not live near economic centers of legacy aviation.

Regulatory Changes Needed

The true potential for workforce growth will only be realized when the regulatory frameworks are in place for aircraft certification and operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was recently passed and signed into law, requires the Agency to proceed with two items that are critical for industry: beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) rulemaking for drones and the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for powered-lift electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Both regulatory updates will help grow the workforce of the future while advancing aviation safety.

Drone and AAM Training Needed

In his testimony, Robbins called on Congress to support aviation curricula, from elementary school through community college and four-year universities, that include drone and AAM-specific training.

AUVSI is proud to partner with numerous Collegiate Training Initiative schools as part of our advanced drone training program, Trusted Operator, to provide a higher level of drone knowledge, flight proficiency, and safety and risk management practices that are valued by employers and customers of commercial drone operators.

Learn More About AUVSI

AUVSI is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of autonomy, uncrewed systems, and robotics. AUVSI represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia, and our members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.

AUVSI offers special membership for academic institutions and students. AUVSI membership provides academic institutions with access …access to influential uncrewed systems and robotics industry connections, access to timely and relevant news, information and trends, and access to policymakers you simply won’t find any place else.

If you want to have access to the innovative resources that will help you gain the competitive edge in this fast-paced and continually evolving industry, then AUVSI membership is a must.

Learn more at https://www.auvsi.org ​

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