Since its inception, and with the generous support of the aviation community, Choose Aerospace has awarded more than $240k in funding, books, testing fees, and equipment to support continued education for aspiring aviators.
 
Now, we’re taking our scholarship program to the next level. Choose Aerospace is dramatically expanding its impact through a complete program overhaul—one that provides greater funding for future aviators and builds stronger connections between educators and employers.
 
We are proud to announce the launch of the Choose Aerospace SkillPointe Scholarship, a new initiative designed to address the nationwide shortage of skilled aviation maintenance professionals.
 
This program is being launched in partnership with the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), which will connect scholarship opportunities directly to students enrolled in FAA part 147 aviation maintenance programs across the country. The scholarship will also be promoted to high school students currently taking Choose Aerospace coursework, ensuring early exposure to aviation maintenance career pathways.
 
Through a new collaboration with the SkillPointe Foundation, the program will leverage SkillPointe’s extensive national network of technical training providers and career-seeking applicants to reach a broader pool of qualified candidates. Contributors to the Fund will gain:
·     Access to applicant data for outreach and recruitment
·     Visibility among aviation students and training programs
·     Opportunities to promote career and education pathways to a highly motivated audience
 
This initiative goes beyond funding—it strengthens the aviation workforce pipeline by connecting students with employers and technical training that leads to FAA mechanic certification.
 
Now is your opportunity to become a Founding Contributor to the Choose Aerospace SkillPointe Scholarship Fund. Founding Contributors will be recognized as early champions of this transformative initiative and play a key role in shaping the program’s long-term success.
 
Download the program flyer to see additional benefits based on contribution level, including scholarship naming opportunities and strategic visibility, or email us to schedule a call and explore partnership opportunities.

About Choose Aerospace
Choose Aerospace is a 501(c)(3) coalition of aerospace stakeholders dedicated to growing and diversifying the aviation technical workforce. The organization develops and distributes affordable, hybrid aviation maintenance curriculum and connects students, schools, and employers to career opportunities. Its mission is to enroll 10,000 students in aviation maintenance training by 2027 through partnerships with schools, municipalities, and industry leaders.
 About SkillPointe Foundation
The SkillPointe Foundation provides vocational scholarships that help individuals gain the skills needed for rewarding careers in high-demand trades. By leveraging its nationwide network of education partners, employers, and applicants, the foundation accelerates access to training programs that lead directly to sustainable employment in fields like aviation maintenance, construction, energy, and healthcare.
 About the Aviation Technician Education Council
ATEC represents FAA-certificated Part 147 schools and supports their mission to prepare the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals. ATEC advocates for effective policies, provides leadership development, and promotes partnerships that align training programs with industry workforce needs across the nation.

Choose Aerospace is pleased to announce a new Group Discount Pricing structure for educational access to the Choose Aerospace Maintenance Curriculum—designed to make aviation maintenance education even more affordable and scalable for schools as their programs grow.

Affordability has always been a top priority for Choose Aerospace. This new structure reinforces that commitment by providing schools with the opportunity to save more as they grow, ensuring that cost remains an enabler—not a barrier—to expanding high-quality aviation maintenance education.

The Group Discount Pricing structure makes it easier for schools to plan for growth and manage costs with predictable annual rates. As the number of active users increases, schools automatically qualify for more favorable pricing:

The 2025-26 school year has seen tremendous growth in Choose Aerospace programs available to high school students across the country. These students are not only being exposed to an advanced, highly rewarding segment of the aerospace industry, but they are also taking meaningful steps down a clearly defined, in-demand career path.
 
Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation maintenance specialists need skilled workers. A new report from the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) and Oliver Wyman shows the U.S. commercial airline industry needs 10,000 more mechanics today. This shortage isn't going away. Programs like Choose Aerospace are part of the industry's plan to attract more employees with the required training.
 
Aviation maintenance is a rewarding career. Besides the built-in "cool factor" of working on and around aircraft, most mechanics can expect attractive wages and benefits. Data compiled for the ATEC report found the average starting hourly rate for licensed aircraft mechanics in 2024 was nearly $30 per hour. Pay rates rise quickly with experience, especially for airline mechanics covered by labor union contracts.
 
The key to getting a job as a certified mechanic is obtaining an FAA license. Choose Aerospace provides a pathway for prospective technicians to take general coursework required of all FAA-certified mechanics. Under a plan being developed by industry and the FAA, high school students that complete the coursework and pass an exam will get credit towards a full certification.
 
They would then continue their education at an accredited college or university, or in an employer-sponsored apprenticeship. Either path would lead them to earning an FAA airframe & powerplant license and make them eligible for full-time work as an aircraft mechanic.
 
Choose Aerospace's mission is to help develop and promote strong aviation technical workforce pipelines. This benefits the aviation maintenance industry and, more importantly, provides opportunities for young people seeking a challenging, rewarding career.