Metro Atlanta high schools are training the next generation of pilots and aviation workers as the industry faces a critical shortage

High schools across metro Atlanta are building pipelines for aviation careers as the industry faces a growing worker shortage. In Gwinnett County, Maxwell High School’s flight operations program lets students accumulate time using FAA-approved flight simulators toward pilot certificates. Flight operations instructor Linda Minor said opportunities matter for students who may not otherwise be able to pursue certification as teens. Neighboring districts in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties also run aviation programs. Students can go on to roles ranging from commercial and military piloting to engineering at Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and technical operations at Delta Air Lines. Demand forecasts cited include Boeing’s projection of nearly 2.5 million aviation professionals needed worldwide by 2045, including 122,000 pilots.