Funder: DOT Federal Aviation Administration
Due Dates: February 5, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 total funding per award cycle (FY 2025)
Summary: Grants to support education, recruitment, and workforce development for future aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems operators, including scholarships, curricula, and outreach programs.
Key Information: 20% of funding is dedicated to the Willa Brown Aviation Education Program; individuals are not eligible to apply directly.
Description
The FAA Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), aims to expand and diversify the U.S. aircraft pilot and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operator workforce. The program supports projects that provide meaningful aviation education, recruitment, and career transition assistance to high school, secondary, and higher education students, as well as veterans and members of the armed forces.
Eligible projects include:
- Developing and delivering aviation education programs or curricula, including computer-based flight simulators.
- Establishing or enhancing scholarship, internship, or registered apprenticeship programs for aspiring professional pilots or UAS operators.
- Creating curricula to improve certified flight instructors' instructional and leadership skills.
- Supporting career transitions into professional pilot or UAS operator roles, especially for military personnel and veterans.
- Conducting outreach to promote careers in commercial aviation, with emphasis on underrepresented populations.
- Other initiatives that enhance or expand the pilot or UAS operator workforce.
The program dedicates 20% of its total funding to the Willa Brown Aviation Education Program, which focuses on aviation education and workforce diversity.
Due Dates
- Application deadline: February 5, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Applications must be submitted electronically via grants.gov.
Funding Amount
- Total funding available: Approximately $1,000,000 for FY 2025
Funding supports eligible projects as described; award sizes may vary based on project scope.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants include academic institutions and aviation community organizations as established by legislation.
- Individuals are not eligible to apply directly.
- Projects must align with the program goals and categories outlined by the FAA.
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.
- Applicants are encouraged to create an account on grants.gov and review sample forms available on the site.
- The FAA hosted a pre-application technical assistance webinar on January 14, 2025, to help applicants understand program requirements.
- For accessibility issues with grants.gov, contact the grants.gov Support Center at support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726.
Additional Information
- The program is authorized through fiscal year 2028 under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and amended by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
- The FAA aims to foster a more inclusive and prepared aviation workforce by supporting education, recruitment, and career transition initiatives.
- For detailed program criteria, application instructions, and FAQs, visit the FAA Aviation Workforce Development Grants pages.
- 20% of the total funding is reserved for the Willa Brown Aviation Education Program, which focuses on aviation education and diversity.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|
| Email | AWD-Grants@faa.gov |
| Phone | (866) 835-5322 |
| Grants.gov Support | support@grants.gov / 1-800-518-4726 |
| Funder Address | DOT Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20591 |