Congressman Cohen Presides at Hearing on Eliminating Bottlenecks in Developing the Aviation Workforce

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, today offered an opening statement and questioned expert witnesses at a hearing entitled “Eliminating Bottlenecks: Examining Opportunities to Recruit, Retain and Engage Aviation Talent.”

In his opening statement, Congressman Cohen focused on the shortage of pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation maintenance technicians, aviation safety inspectors, and designated pilot examiners caused by both the pandemic and retirements of experienced talent. He also emphasized the need for a diversified workforce, which he noted is a priority goal in the recently enacted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization law.

See the opening statement here.

In his questions to expert witnesses, Congressman Cohen sought to cast light on how the University of Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Community College aviation programs could benefit by lessons learned by other aviation workforce training programs. He also asked about the benefit of diversity in the aviation workforce and the need to increase the numbers of women and minorities to meet the high level of vacancies in the aviation workforce.

See those questions here.

Witnesses at today’s hearing were:

• Mr. Matthew “Monty” Montgomery, Department Chair, Department of Professional Aviation, Louisiana Tech University;
• Mr. Michael Robbins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI);
• Ms. Joanne “Jo” Damato, Senior Vice President, Education, Training and Workforce Development, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); and
• Mr. Dave Spero, National President, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO

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