Yesterday, the FAA
published details on the long-awaited aviation maintenance grant program, an initiative created by Congress in the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill. Once implemented, successful applicants would received grants between $25,000 and $500,000. Congress has appropriated $5 million per year to fund the program through FY 2023.
Under the proposed guidance, grants may be used to establish new educational programs, purchase equipment, improve existing programs, establish scholarships or apprenticeships, support outreach initiatives, and/or to increase career opportunities in economically disadvantaged geographic areas.
While part 147 certificate holders are not specifically identified as an eligible applicant, any accredited institution of higher education, high school, or secondary school may apply. (ATEC believes the definition encompasses the entire part 147 community, please
let us know if that does not hold true for your institution.)
While a co-applicant partnership is not required in the proposal, the agency is encouraging collaborative submissions in an effort to satisfy congressional intent.
The FAA notification and request for comment (due Sept. 23) comes in advance of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will publish on grants.gov around mid November and remain open for 60 days. Additional NOFOs would be published for each funded fiscal year thereafter.
The FAA reauthorization bill created a mirror program to support pilot workforce development. Information on both the pilot and technician workforce grant programs is available on the
FAA workforce grant landing page..
