Our Mission and Vision
At Pathways to Aviation, our mission and vision work together to strengthen the aviation, aerospace, and drone technologies workforce by connecting people, education, and opportunity. We are committed to preparing the next generation of professionals for careers in aerospace and aviation while supporting employers who rely on a skilled, motivated, and future-ready labor force.
Our Mission
Pathways to Aviation provides workforce solutions by informing, inspiring, and engaging the industry’s future labor force. The aviation and aerospace sectors are evolving rapidly, and with that growth comes both opportunity and challenge. Our mission is grounded in addressing those realities head-on while creating meaningful pathways for students, job seekers, and employers alike.
The industry continues to face a persistent workforce shortage that, while temporarily slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to intensify in the years ahead. Large manufacturers plan to build more than 3,000 new aircraft over the next two decades, creating an urgent demand for a well-trained, certified, and dependable workforce. At the same time, commercial airline pilots are retiring at a faster pace than new pilots are entering the field, placing additional strain on airlines and operators.
Beyond the cockpit, tourism growth and corporate travel increase the need for skilled personnel across maintenance, operations, logistics, and management roles. The average age of private aircraft owners continues to rise, signaling a future need for new pilots, technicians, and aviation professionals to sustain general aviation and aerospace.
Employers across the industry report ongoing challenges in locating, hiring, and retaining quality talent. Compounding the issue, many high school and college students lack access to career readiness skills and awareness of the opportunities available to them. Pathways to Aviation exists to bridge these gaps—connecting individuals to education, training, and real-world exposure that prepares them for long-term success, including fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.
Our mission is to inform, inspire, and engage individuals at every stage of their career journey — from curious students to seasoned professionals — while helping employers find the talent they need to soar.
Our Vision
Our vision is to achieve optimal hiring success for both job seekers and employers by building strong, collaborative systems that support career development from exploration through employment. We believe success happens when individuals are informed, prepared, and connected to the right opportunities at the right time.
To bring this vision to life, we encourage high school and college students, recent graduates, and individuals seeking employment to actively reach out. Our community helps students explore pathways, build skills, and connect with employers who are hiring now and planning for the future.
We work closely with businesses to understand their immediate and long-term workforce needs, ensuring alignment between education, training, and employment. Through partnerships with membership associations, universities, school districts, and statewide education and career and technical education departments, we extend learning beyond the classroom and into real-world application.
Looking ahead, we will continue to build a large scholarship fund to support advanced education and training. By reducing financial barriers and strengthening partnerships, Pathways to Aviation is creating sustainable pathways that benefit individuals, employers, and the entire industry—fueling opportunity today and shaping the future of careers in aerospace and aviation.
