AIRWAYS Act

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to provide grants to improve the preparation and representation of certain students in aviation-related fields. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advancing Inclusion and Representation in the Workforce of Aviation and Transportation Systems Act AIRWAYS Act 2. Expanding aviation workforce development programs (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants for eligible projects to support the education and recruitment of— (1) aircraft pilots and the development of the aircraft pilot workforce; (2) aviation maintenance technical workers and the development of the aviation maintenance workforce; and (3) aviation manufacturing technical workers and the development of the aviation manufacturing workforce. (b) Eligible applicants (1) Aircraft pilot workforce An application for a grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(1) may be submitted by— (A) an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, or a local educational agency; (B) a flight school that provides flight training, as defined in part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or that holds a pilot school certificate under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) a State or local governmental entity; (D) a non-profit organization that participates in the creation and delivery of workforce programs; or (E) an air carrier in partnership with an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, or a local educational agency, or a flight school described in subparagraph (B). (2) Aviation maintenance workforce An application for a grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(2) may be submitted by— (A) an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, or a local educational agency; (B) a holder of a certificate issued under part 21, 121, 135, or 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or a labor organization representing aviation maintenance workers; (C) a holder of a type or production certificate or similar authorization issued under section 44704 of title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary; (D) a State or local governmental entity; or (E) a non-profit organization that participates in the creation and delivery of workforce programs. (3) Aviation manufacturing workforce An application for a grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(3) may be submitted by— (A) an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, or a local educational agency; (B) a holder of a type or production certificate or similar authorization issued under section 44704 of title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary; (C) a State or local governmental entity; or (D) a non-profit organization that participates in the creation and delivery of workforce programs. (4) Form The Secretary shall specify the form and manner in which to submit an application for a grant for an eligible project under this section. (c) Eligible projects For purposes of this section, an eligible project is a project— (1) to create and deliver a program designed to provide students enrolled in a public secondary school with meaningful aviation education that is designed to help prepare the students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation maintenance technical workers, or aviation manufacturing technical workers; (2) to support the professional development of teachers and other educators in implementing the program described in paragraph (1); (3) to establish new educational programs that teach technical skills used by aircraft pilots, in aviation maintenance, or in aviation manufacturing, including purchasing equipment, or to improve existing such programs; (4) to establish scholarships or registered apprenticeships for individuals pursuing employment as aircraft pilots, or in the aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing industries; (5) to support outreach about careers as aircraft pilots, or careers in the aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing industries to— (A) students enrolled in public elementary schools and public secondary schools, and postsecondary school students; or (B) communities under represented in the aviation pilot, maintenance, and manufacturing industries, including women, minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities; (6) to support educational opportunities related to aircraft pilots, aviation maintenance, and aviation manufacturing in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities; (7) to support transition to aircraft pilot careers or careers in aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing, including for veterans and members of the Armed Forces; or (8) to otherwise expand the aircraft pilot, aviation maintenance, and aviation manufacturing workforces. (d) Grant application review In reviewing and selecting applications for grants for eligible projects under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) give priority to applicants that— (A) provide an assurance to use grant funds to encourage the participation of populations that are under represented in the aviation industry, including women, minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities; (B) provide an assurance to use grant funds to encourage the participation of populations that are under represented in the aviation industry, including women, minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities, to address the workforce needs of rural and regional airports; or (C) provide an assurance to strengthen aviation programs at a minority-serving institution, a public institution of higher education, or a public postsecondary vocational institution; and (2) prior to selecting among competing applications, consult, as appropriate, with representatives of aircraft repair stations, design and production approval holders, air carriers, labor organizations, business aviation, general aviation, educational institutions, and other relevant aviation sectors. (e) Partnership with other entities A recipient of a grant under this section may enter into a partnership agreement with an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or another entity, to carry out activities with the grant funds. (f) Grant amount The maximum amount of a grant awarded for an eligible project under this section for a fiscal year shall be $1,000,000. (g) Authorization of appropriations For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for making grants for eligible projects under this section. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Air carrier The term air carrier (2) Elementary school The term elementary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (4) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) (6) Postsecondary vocational institution The term postsecondary vocational institution 20 U.S.C. 1002(c) (7) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (8) Secretary The term Secretary

Summary: Advancing Inclusion and Representation in the Workforce of Aviation and Transportation Systems Act or the AIRWAYS Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to provide grants to support the education and recruitment of an aviation workforce (i.e., aircraft pilots, aviation maintenance technical workers, and aviation manufacturing technical workers). Eligible applicants include certain educational institutions (e.g., an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, and a local educational agency), state or local governments, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, air carriers in a partnership with certain educational institutions are eligible for aircraft pilot workforce grants. Among other things, DOT must give priority to applicants that assure that grant funds will be used to encourage the participation of populations that are underrepresented in the aviation industry, including women, minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities.