FAAST Blast —Funding for Future Pilots & Mechanics, How to Avoid Med Certificate Delay from Name Error, How to Talk Like a Pilot

FAAST Blast — Week of January 06 – 12, 2025
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
 

FAA Offers Fresh Funding to Inspire Future Pilots & Maintenance Technicians

The FAA is helping to develop the next generation of aviation professionals through two grants aimed at creating a more diverse pool of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians.  

The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants (www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/pilots) fund programs that educate students to become aircraft pilots or unmanned aircraft systems operators. The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants (www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/technical) fund programs that prepare people to be aviation maintenance technicians. Representatives of eligible organizations can submit applications at grants.gov through Feb. 5, 2025.  

Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $1 million for each grant per fiscal year. Last year the FAA awarded $13.5 million in grants to more than 30 schools and organizations.  

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for each grant provides detailed information on eligibility, deadlines, evaluation criteria and application procedures. To ensure fair and open competition for the grants, the FAA will post answers to frequently asked questions on its website at www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd.

How to Avoid Medical Certification Delays Caused by Name Errors

Pilots may wonder, why is it important to use my name as it appears on my government-issued ID? In a recent episode of the Pilot Minute video series, Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrop explains how certification delays caused by a name error can be avoided by checking the MedXPress entry against your official government-issued identification. If the two do not match, be sure to revise any name variation in your MedXPress account to reflect your full name on your federal or state-issued ID and save valuable time getting your medical certificate. To watch this and other videos, visit bit.ly/FAAPilotMinute.  

How to Talk Like a Pilot

Clear communication keeps you flying safe. Ready to fine-tune your radio calls? Learn the essentials by reading the article “How to Talk Like a Pilot” at https://medium.com/faa/how-to-talk-like-a-pilot-c0d15bd1327f in the Nov/Dec 2024 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. Read the entire readers’ preferences issue at www.faa.gov/safety_briefing.

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