Colorado Aeronautical Board Approves $270,617 in Aviation Education and Workforce Development Grants

Watkins – The Colorado Aeronautical Board has approved over $270,000 in Colorado Aviation Education and Workforce Development grants. The grants were awarded on Thursday, June 9, 2022 during a meeting of the Colorado Aeronautical Board held in conjunction with the Colorado Airport Operators Association Spring Conference held in Grand Junction.

A total of ten organizations applied to compete for $400,000 allocated and approved for this grant program by the CAB in February 2022. Each applicant was required to answer a battery of nine questions regarding the details of the aviation program they proposed to be funded through the Colorado Aviation Education and Workforce Development Grant Program. A total of eight applicants were awarded grants for the 2022 and 2023 grant cycles.

The purpose of this aviation grant program is to help support organizations and entities that focus on aviation education and workforce development, and organizations that help develop the talent pipeline needed to support our future aviation system needs within the State of Colorado.

Preflight Aviation Camp was awarded a $13,214 aviation education grant. Preflight’s mission is to inspire young girls to take off into a career in aviation, while transforming beliefs about traditional gender roles in aviation. The awarded funds will help the organization purchase a number of new supplies that support the camp as well as funding geared to help further expand the camp to additional locations around Colorado.

"Preflight Aviation Camp is so grateful for the sponsorship and we appreciate that Colorado recognizes the value of girls in aviation and STEM," said Nancy Hultgren

Aims Community College Aviation department was awarded $50,000 to jump start/create a Mobile Aviation Lab with industry equipment to take to the road to bring awareness, instruct, train, inspire, and connect the K-12 community through flight through support run by students, Certified Flight Instructors, faculty, and staff.

"On behalf of the Aims Aviation Department and our Women in Aviation Chapter, we are so honored to be accepting the CDOT Aviation Education Grant. These funds will empower our students and staff to create a first class opportunity to enrich and provide access to aviation industry connections to the greater Northern Colorado area. A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved!” said Malone Miller.

The Civil Air Patrol, Pikes Peak Composite Squadron, was awarded $12,000 for a RealSim Flight Simulator with a Garmin G1000 suite to both provide initial exposure to becoming a pilot, but to provide, specifically, an understanding of the G1000 avionics system prior to entering a G1000-equipped aircraft. Part of their funding will go towards obtaining an additional mobile simulator for more outreach.

Colorado Digital Learning Solutions (CDLS), an ongoing supplemental online course program, was awarded $25,000 to develop a stronger aviation and aerospace pathway by creating a Middle School level career exploration course on aviation and aerospace careers using content experts and FAA’s STEM Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) content.

Falcon AeroLab, a STEM/Aerospace enrichment program, was awarded $45,000 to enhance their Introduction to Aircraft Mechanics course, one of many courses offered, so students can graduate with an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification.

The National Museum of WWII Aviation was awarded $55,000 to reinitiate the museum’s K-12 STEM Program, which has been suspended since March 2020 due to COVID restrictions. The funding will be focused on the 9-12 grade level modules.

Steamboat Springs Airport/Bob Adams Field (SBS) was awarded $34,828 to purchase a Precision Flight Controls CR-12 Propanel AATD simulator.The program goal is to provide a flight simulator for pilots located in rural Northwest Colorado who are seeking introductory training, studying to obtain their instrument rating, or looking for refresher flight training. The goal is more proficient instrument trained pilots on the Western Slope of Colorado, which will lead to safer flight operations in the Rocky Mountains.

Wings Over the Rockies, Wings Aerospace Pathways (WAP), a full-day learning enrichment program for middle and high school students, was awarded $35,575 to expand a Drone Pathways course. The Drone Pathways course goes beyond FAA Part 107 certification for students: they will also learn essential skills including how to build and repair their own drones, and how to prepare for careers in the industry.

The Colorado Aviation Education and Workforce Development Program is fully supported by the Division’s overall mission to advance a safe and efficient aviation system through collaboration, investment, and advocacy.

More information can be found at Colorado-Aeronautics.org.