STUDY OF CIVILIAN AVIATION TRAINING PROGRAMS.

SEC. 1410. STUDY OF CIVILIAN AVIATION TRAINING PROGRAMS. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) the role of the military as a source of supply of trained pilots and mechanics and other personnel for commercial aviation is severely reduced; (2) approximately 50 percent of the 52,000 commercial pilots currently flying will retire by the year 2000 and an additional 8,000 to 10,000 pilots will be needed by then; (3) there is significant underrepresentation of minorities and women currently working in the aviation industry and African Americans constitute less than 1 percent of pilots with the Nation’s scheduled air carriers; (4) there is a substantial projected increase of minorities and women as a proportion of the workforce by the year 2000; and 106 STAT. 822 (5) there is need for a comprehensive study of future human resources needs for the air transportation industry, including a thorough investigation of recruitment, aviation training outside the military context, financial and other incentives and disincentives which affect the flow of people, and especially minorities and women, into the industry. (b) Study Required.— The Secretary of Education shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education to study civilian aviation training programs needed to satisfy the workforce requirements of the commercial aviation industry in the year 2000 and beyond. The specific concerns to be addressed by the study shall include— (1) the avenues for civilians to enter the aviation industry, (2) the characteristics of current training and the match with skill requirements in the workplace, and (3) the impediments and incentives for minorities and women to enter the aviation industry (such as a lack of role models, cost of schooling and flight time, the underutilization of historically black colleges and universities in the educational training process, and institutional barriers). (c) Interim Report.— The Secretary of Education shall request that the National Academy of Sciences Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education submit an interim report to the Secretary and the Congress within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and the study shall be completed within 2 years of the date of enactment of this Act.