Rick Dean
Registered
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http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0404/09/d07-117657.htm
Minority pilots sought
WMU flight college, black universities join to diversify work force
Associated Press
BATTLE CREEK --Western Michigan University's College of Aviation is teaming with five historically black colleges in a new effort to diversify the nation's aviation work force, which is dominated by white men.
Less than 2 percent of the nation's 75,000 working commercial pilots are minorities, according to the Organization of Black Airline Pilots. Women accounted for 4.9 percent of pilots during 2001, the Federal A
iation Administration reports.
There no longer is a pilot shortage because many qualified aviators remain laid off in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11. But officials anticipate the
r
r
num
er of open positions to increase as more pilo
ts reach the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The opportunities for employment within the industry are tremendous and trying to get young people to recognize aviation as a career field is very important, not only to the industry but also to the nation, said Karl Minter, vice president of the Organization of Black Airline Pilots, which will play an advisory role to the consortium. "t's important to have a work force that mirrors the community and the public that we serve.
Among about 900 students enrolled in the aviation college, 14 percent are black and 13 percent are women, Dean Rick Maloney said. The college also has nearly finished training 24 minority and female students through a program supported by a $1.65 million contributio
n from Delta Airlines in 2001.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0404/09/d07-117657.htm
Minority pilots sought
WMU flight college, black universities join to diversify work force
Associated Press
BATTLE CREEK --Western Michigan University's College of Aviation is teaming with five historically black colleges in a new effort to diversify the nation's aviation work force, which is dominated by white men.
Less than 2 percent of the nation's 75,000 working commercial pilots are minorities, according to the Organization of Black Airline Pilots. Women accounted for 4.9 percent of pilots during 2001, the Federal A
iation Administration reports.
There no longer is a pilot shortage because many qualified aviators remain laid off in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11. But officials anticipate the
r
r
num
er of open positions to increase as more pilo
ts reach the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The opportunities for employment within the industry are tremendous and trying to get young people to recognize aviation as a career field is very important, not only to the industry but also to the nation, said Karl Minter, vice president of the Organization of Black Airline Pilots, which will play an advisory role to the consortium. "t's important to have a work force that mirrors the community and the public that we serve.
Among about 900 students enrolled in the aviation college, 14 percent are black and 13 percent are women, Dean Rick Maloney said. The college also has nearly finished training 24 minority and female students through a program supported by a $1.65 million contributio
n from Delta Airlines in 2001.