At the opening general session this morning for the 30th anniversary edition of the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in San Antonio, Texas, association president and CEO Ed Bolen thanked the audience for their engagement in last year’s fight over ATC privatization. “When we work together and we coordinate, and we can communicate, we can make a big difference,” he said. “We can solve problems.”

Among the next challenges facing the industry is the intensifying pressure on the workforce, with shortages of pilots and maintenance technicians already being felt, said Bolen. “Recognizing that there is a shortage out there, we’ve got to find some way to continue to attract and retain the very best.”

He detailed a number of efforts NBAA and the industry can further use to attract talent at the grassroots level. For example, NBAA has already modified its professional membership tier to welcome students, allowing them to participate in the organization and take advantage of its resources. Through NBAA's regional representatives, it also works to foster career events for students, along with internships at companies introducing people to the industry and mentorship programs guiding them.

The organization has also revamped its compensation survey to give employers a better idea of what talent is worth.