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By October, the school year starts to feel a little more settled. Students know how to find their classes, teachers have a better sense of their students, and the routines that carry everyone through the semester are taking shape. After all the work of getting started, I hope you’ve had a chance to take a breath and appreciate what’s already happening in your classroom.
Here at Choose Aerospace, we’re celebrating that progress with you. We’re just shy of 1,000 students in 41 programs across 19 states this year, and those students have already completed more than 1,100 courses! That’s a strong start, especially with a few programs still coming on board and another couple hundred students expected before the year is over. Altogether, Choose Aerospace has now served more than 3,500 students since we started this journey with you. It’s exciting to see that reach grow while this year’s students are already making steady progress.
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I’m especially encouraged by our expansion into registered apprenticeship programs, where Choose Aerospace is being used as related technical instruction. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about what comes next for students. Seeing the curriculum become part of an apprenticeship gives that conversation another concrete answer and creates more opportunities to connect learning with work.
Those connections are also why we value getting out and meeting people. We recently attended the Aerium Education Summit in Pennsylvania, and we’ll be at the AOPA Symposium in November and ACTE VISION in December (thanks to US Aviation Academy for sponsoring our attendance!). If you’ll be at either event, please come see us. I’d love to hear how your year is going, what your students are enjoying, and where you could use a little more support.
This month’s newsletter offers several ways to keep moving forward. We’re sharing more about the ATEC Credential process, a look at advocacy in action, and opportunities to field a student competition team at VERTICON or MRO Americas. We’re also introducing the Curriculum Service Bulletin, a monthly feature where you can find curriculum updates and practical information to help you plan and teach.
As your classes settle into their rhythm, keep talking with us. Your questions and experiences help us understand what’s working and where we can improve. Thank you for the time, patience, and care you’re putting into your students’ education. We’re glad to be working alongside you.
Here’s to a great fall semester!
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Kelly Filgo
Director of Operations
| | Together, We Made Our Case | Thank you to the Choose Aerospace programs and supporters who submitted comments in support of ATEC's petition for exemption to expand early FAA testing opportunities for students. Your voices helped demonstrate the importance of creating more direct pathways to aviation mechanic certification. We appreciate your continued engagement in advocacy efforts that strengthen aviation maintenance education and workforce pathways. | From Prepware to the ATEC Credential | We're bringing together practical resources to help educators guide students from exam preparation through credentialing. Explore current guidance and learn about upcoming tools, including a process flowchart, endorsement rubric, and training videos to help simplify the process. Read more. | From strong industry support for ATEC's petition to expand early FAA testing opportunities for Choose Aerospace students to congressional outreach during the annual Washington, D.C., Fly-In, recent advocacy efforts are helping advance policies that strengthen aviation maintenance education and workforce pathways. Read more. | Curriculum Service Bulletin - October 2026 | Introducing the Curriculum Service Bulletin, a new monthly feature sharing curriculum updates, teaching tips, and practical resources for Choose Aerospace educators. This month's updates include a new Teacher's Toolbox video, changes to instructor guides, electricity course updates, and a new semester planning tool. Read more. | Take Your Skills to the Competition Floor | Team registration is open for The Competition at VERTICON and MRO Americas in 2027! Following a strong showing by Choose Aerospace programs in 2026, including Rising Aviation High School's overall championship at VERTICON, schools are encouraged to field a team and give students the opportunity to showcase their skills alongside industry professionals. Read more. | | |
November 15-17, 2026: AOPA Foundation Aviation Education Symposium | Phoenix, AZ
December 2-5, 2026: ACTE CareerTech VISION | New Orleans, LA
March 15-18, 2027: The Competition at VERTICON | Anaheim, CA
April 4-7, 2027: 2027 ATEC Annual Conference | Wichita, KS
April 12-15, 2027: The Competition at MRO Americas | Orlando, FL
| | Connect with the Choose Aerospace Teachers' Community | |
Looking for a place to connect with fellow aviation maintenance educators and program partners? Join the Choose Aerospace Facebook group to share ideas, ask questions, exchange resources, and stay connected with others supporting the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians.
Join the Facebook Group
| | Choose Aerospace programs have access to test preparation and assessment resources for classroom instruction and student use. Resources can be used to assess knowledge, reinforce course content, and prepare for course exams, the FAA General Knowledge Test, and the ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential. Learn more. | | ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential | The ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential provides students with an industry-recognized opportunity to demonstrate foundational aviation maintenance knowledge aligned with FAA Mechanic Airman Certification Standards. Designed to complement aviation maintenance education pathways, the credential helps students validate their skills, strengthen postsecondary and employment applications, and explore future opportunities in the aviation industry. Learn more about eligibility, exam content, and participating programs. Learn more. | | Independent Study Registration | Enrollment is now open for the Choose Aerospace Independent Study program, offered in partnership with ATEC Academy and covering FAA Mechanic General subject areas. This fully online, 15-week program delivers approximately 150 hours of self-paced instruction through the Choose Aerospace LMS, supported by a certificated A&P instructor. Designed as a preparatory or supplemental pathway, participants who successfully complete the program and pass the comprehensive exam may earn the ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential. Read more. | | |
TBX Aviation Maintenance Scholarship supports students enrolled in FAA-certificated part 147 aviation maintenance programs. The scholarship provides tuition assistance for one recipient and covers FAA General, Airframe and Powerplant written exam fees for two additional recipients. Applicants must be enrolled in a part 147 school and plan to pursue FAA testing within 12 months of the award. Applications due October 31, 2026
South Texas PAMA offers scholarships to support students pursuing FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certification. The 2026 Fall A&P Scholarships are open to current students enrolled in aviation maintenance programs in South Texas, with up to 10 scholarships available to help cover education, training and, for students nearing graduation, professional tool costs. Applications due October 31, 2026
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program provides scholarships for the next generation of skilled workers looking to get trained for jobs that are in demand. All aircraft-mechanics-in-training are invited to apply. Open until October 31, 2026
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) scholarship program supports students pursuing flight training and aviation-related education, including airframe and powerplant maintenance, aerospace engineering and aviation management. Scholarships can help cover flight training expenses or tuition at colleges, universities and trade schools. Applications due December 16, 2026
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Texas Perkins State Leadership Grants (Plan Ahead for 2027)
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has released FY2027 resources for Perkins State Leadership Grants, which support projects designed to strengthen career and technical education across the state. Eligible Texas public two-year institutions can review the materials now and begin preparing for the next funding opportunity.
Colorado Perkins Innovation Grants (Plan Ahead for 2027)
Colorado's Innovations in CTE grants provide up to $250,000 for projects that strengthen and expand career and technical education. The next call for proposals is expected to open in mid-March 2027, but schools can use the current application materials to begin developing projects and partnerships now. Among the FY2027 recipients, Sargent School District received $200,000 for a San Luis Valley Aviation & Aerospace Innovation Hub.
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