McKinney ISD’s aviation program took flight a decade ago and continues to flourish amid a growing need for airline workers nationwide.
With over 200 students taking part in McKinney’s Aviation Academy each year, it is arguably one of the district’s most successful programs.
As Todd Young, McKinney ISD’s senior director of career and technical education, told Community Impact, the four-year program creates a direct pipeline for students to join the airline industry.
“One of the coolest things is when you see students that went through our program come back and work at the McKinney National Airport,” Young said.
The first two years include classes at students’ home campuses, however, the last two involve hands-on experience through the district’s partnership with the McKinney National Airport.
More specifically, students can earn three certifications through the program, allowing them to get hired right after graduation as maintenance workers or giving them a leg up when applying to colleges.
The district is one of the better-performing school systems in North Texas, logging a 97.2% on-time graduation rate for the 2021-2022 school year. For comparison, almost 20% of Dallas ISD’s graduating Class of 2022 failed to earn a diploma in four years despite the hard work of the district’s dedicated educators.
McKinney’s Aviation Academy is also keeping itself relevant by keeping its fingers on the pulse of the industry. To that end, it will add a drone program in the 2024-2025 school year.
“Currently, the [Federal Aviation Administration] is revamping this certification, and we need to see what the requirements are so that our students are prepared,” Young explained, per Community Impact.
Nowadays, drones are used for various purposes. For instance, drones can be deployed in military and police operations, delivering packages for retailers, facilitating civil “smart city” initiatives, and lighting up the sky to the delight of crowds during holiday celebrations, as covered by The Dallas Express.
Considering that the next 10 years are expected to bring a shortage of airline workers, McKinney ISD’s Aviation Academy is an important initiative.
Boeing’s annual Pilot and Technician Outlook report revealed a need for 127,000 new pilots and 125,000 maintenance technicians in North America by 2043 to meet demand.
The lack of pilots, air traffic controllers, and aviation mechanics can be felt across the industry, as covered by The Dallas Express.
Moreover, such manpower issues have been straining safeguards and driving safety concerns among aviation officials and regulators, with an alarming uptick in the near-misses reported just this year.