Gaining Altitude Oklahoma Works to Develop Future Aerospace Workforce

By Paula Kedy, M.A. Ed.
Statewide Aerospace STEM Education Manager

STATEWIDE - In what was once a small community grocery store, Wyandotte High School aviation students are developing flight plans, analyzing the effects of weather, and utilizing flight simulators to practice piloting skills.  Similarly, not far from Tulsa International Airport, East Central High School students are studying the parts of an aircraft, and are working to build a foundation in aircraft maintenance.

These students represent just some of the 5,000 students enrolled in high school aviation programs across Oklahoma, programs that have been designed to ready students for careers in our state’s vital aerospace industry.

Ensuring that students have the skills necessary to enter a workforce is certainly not a new concept, but it is one that is beginning to take flight in Oklahoma.  This year, 117 Oklahoma school districts are offering aviation coursework and are partnering with airports and aerospace industries to ensure that students have the skills necessary to enter the workforce.  Under the guidance of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, and with the support of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, schools are building pathways of learning that will ensure that students are prepared for productive careers in the aerospace industry.

It is imperative that these programs not just exist, but that they continue to gain altitude. If we wish our schools to improve and our state to flourish, it cannot be the sole responsibility of a school district to prepare students for careers in the 1,100 aerospace industries in our state. It will take the support of us all of us to make it happen.

To that effect, the Tulsa Aerospace Council has established a framework that allows employees of Tulsa area aerospace industries to assist teachers in the implementation of classroom lab activities that help to bring real-world experience into the classroom.

In Oklahoma City, the AAR Corporation has developed a partnership with the Putnam City School District to provide summer internship opportunities for students.  This past summer, 10 Putnam City High School aviation students were provided on-the-job training in aircraft maintenance, allowing them to gain work-ready skills that are needed for a state that prides itself in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft.

Recently, Flight Safety International, of Broken Arrow, announced plans to offer scholarships for high school aviation students and professional development opportunities for Oklahoma classroom teachers.  Additionally, citizens in Ada have worked to establish the Ada Schools Aviation Program (ASAP) Foundation, a foundation designed to provide flight training and post-secondary aviation scholarships for students.

These programs of support are indicative of what must happen if Oklahoma is going to remain committed to the building of the strong workforce necessary to meet the needs of Oklahoma’s second leading industry.  The work currently being done to develop Oklahoma’s aerospace workforce has been noticed by states across the nation. It is imperative that we continue to work together to provide the lift necessary to propel Oklahoma to the forefront.