The resurgence in career and technical education is one of the most compelling success stories in education today. Across the country, more than eight million high school students are enrolled in CTE programs, building future-ready skills in healthcare, manufacturing, and other fast-growing trades.
Yet, despite the soaring demand for pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and aerospace technicians, CTE opportunities for future aviation professionals have yet to take off. The industry is in crisis mode, with the need to fill more than 1.5 million roles worldwide over the next eight years.
The sky’s the limit for talented students ready to pursue high-demand, high-paying careers in an exciting professional field. As education leaders, it is our responsibility to seek out the right partnerships to give them the training and support to succeed.
Entry into the aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace fields typically follows one of three pathways—private flight schools, military training, or expensive postsecondary programs that many students simply can’t afford. This training bottleneck is only intensifying an already critical workforce shortage.
In Wayne County, Michigan, we are striving to expand aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace learning experiences for middle and high school students, especially those underrepresented in STEM fields, across 33 public school districts and 97 public school academies to help fill the growing demand.
As the home of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, frequently recognized as a world-class aviation facility, Wayne County can serve as a gateway to opportunity, exposing students to rewarding careers while supporting the region’s long-term economic growth.
CTE is soaring
Through the “Takeoff with Wayne County” initiative, the Wayne County Regional Educational Services Agency, with the support of the Wayne County executive’s office, has partnered with three regional airports—Detroit City, Willow Run, and Grosse Ile—to launch CTE pathways in aviation.
In its first year, the program has engaged 177 students in state-of-the-art aviation education classes and an FAA Part 107 drone licensure program. The initiative is also advancing toward activating an already existing state-approved aviation/avionics maintenance programming, one of the top three occupational gaps in the U.S.
When schools collaborate with local airports, aviation and aerospace businesses, and philanthropic supporters, the opportunities are endless for the students and the industry. High schools become the direct connection for the talent pipeline.
In addition, school leaders must ensure that all students have awareness, access, exposure, experiences, and opportunity, regardless of zip code, through intentional outreach and inclusive curriculum design.
Wayne County’s regional initiative is offering a wide range of life-changing opportunities for students.
For example, Ecorse High School students recently engaged in real-world learning experiences at the Tuskegee Airman National Museum at the Coleman A. Young International Airport, historically known as the Detroit City Airport. Students observed an aircraft and participated in a discovery flight during which they piloted the aircraft.
During Wayne County’s Backpacks to Briefcases event at Wayne County Community College, eighth-grade students spoke directly with a Delta Airlines pilot who shared how they could engage more deeply in the aviation career pathway. They learned about the basic requirements needed to pilot an aircraft, FAA requirements, and other key factors that could help them earn their private pilot license by age 17.
Eager to form partnerships
“Takeoff With Wayne County” is already laying the foundation for long-term economic stability across the county. The aviation industry serves as a major engine for the region, employing more than 18,000 workers across the local airports and stimulating 86,000 jobs throughout the broader economy.
As a significant portion of the workforce reaches mandatory retirement age, developing a ready-made, locally-grown talent pipeline to take over is essential to sustaining Michigan’s strength and competitiveness.
For students, the pathway to the aviation field paves the way to build generational wealth that, for many families, has felt out of reach. Depending on their certification and experience, entry-level aviation mechanics can earn up to $65,000 a year, while licensed drone operators typically make between $33,000 to $50,000 annually in their first three years in the field—without a four-year degree or the burden of significant school debt.
For those who choose an engineering or piloting path, the earning potential can be even higher, creating stronger opportunities for financial stability and career advancement.
Despite the wide range of opportunities available to students, aviation and aeronautics are still absent from the CTE conversation. That disconnect is understandable—the equipment is expensive, few educators possess direct industry experience, and the training is highly specialized compared to many other trades.
The good news is, schools don’t have to go it alone. Employers are actively seeking the next generation of skilled aviation professionals and are eager to form partnerships that prepare students for future careers.
With almost 500 regional airports and more than 3,000 aerospace companies across the U.S., most school districts have the connections and resources needed to start building a CTE aviation program.
