City, Five Education Partners Launch Aviation Workforce Initiative

Riverside officials and leaders from five local educational institutions signed memorandums of understanding Wednesday afternoon to establish the Learning Institute for Flight Technology (LIFT), to address critical nationwide shortages in aviation and aerospace careers.

At Wednesday's signing ceremony in the Mayor's Ceremonial Room, Councilmember Steven Robillard emphasized the partnership's strategic approach.

"LIFT is not a single program, it is a framework and a brand that brings together efforts that already exist, strengthens them, and gives them a direction," Robillard said. "At its core, LIFT is about asking the right questions of our partners, identifying the resources that are already at the table, and ensuring we are coordinating intentionally rather than working in silos."

Robillard described the agreements as "symbolic by design," adding that "symbols matter. They signal commitment, they create accountability, and they lay the groundwork for real work ahead."

The initiative addresses projected workforce shortages across the aviation industry. According to Federal Aviation Administration projections cited in the staff report, the industry will need 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028, faces a 10% to 20% shortage of aviation technicians and mechanics by the same year, and will see a shortage of approximately 24,000 pilots by 2026 as tens of thousands retire.

Aviation careers now offer substantial salaries. Air traffic controllers earn a median salary of $144,580, with senior controllers reaching the statutory cap of $225,000. Aviation maintenance technicians earn a median of $78,680, with senior technicians at major airlines earning more than $120,000. Airline pilots earn a median of $226,600, with major airline captains on widebody aircraft reaching $350,000 to $700,000 annually.

Councilmember Steven Robillard described the Learning Institute for Flight Technology as "a brand and organizing platform" rather than a specific program or facility during Tuesday's council presentation.

"The purpose is to ensure Riverside is proactive, not reactive about the future of aerospace and advanced manufacturing jobs," Robillard said.

The exploratory phase extends through June 30, 2029. The city's role is "not to run curriculum, but to convene, align, and translate workforce demand."

"This is intentionally laying the foundation before building the structure," Robillard said.

The signing ceremony in the Mayor's Ceremonial Room followed unanimous City Council approval Tuesday night of the non-binding agreements with Riverside Unified School District, Alvord Unified School District, Riverside City College, California Baptist University, and University of California, Riverside.

March Air Reserve Base, established in 1918, is one of the oldest continuously operated military airfields in the United States, while Riverside Airport now ranks as the busiest FAA Federal Contract Tower airport in California.

At Tuesday's council meeting, representatives from four partner institutions praised the initiative.

Chris Lynch, dean of engineering at the University of California, Riverside, noted that UCR now graduates more than 1,000 engineers annually. "Giving these students the opportunity for internships and jobs in our area is key to the future development of the area," Lynch said.

Eric Bishop, interim president of Riverside City College, called the partnership "rare" and "idealistic."

Mark Howe, senior vice president for finance and administration at California Baptist University, noted CBU already operates a flight school with more than 300 students and approximately 18 aircraft at Riverside Municipal Airport. "We're looking to be part of this coalition that really brings opportunities for our students and our graduates," Howe said.

Krista Fairley, assistant superintendent of educational services for Alvord Unified School District, said the initiative represents "one of the first times that all of our educational institutions are coming together to do what's best for kids and what's best for our community."

Alvord's participation came after the meeting agenda was published.

During public comment, Keith Nelson encouraged including special needs and developmentally disabled communities in workforce development plans, noting they "make excellent workers in the trade."

Council members praised the collaboration, with Councilmember Chuck Conder, father of an airline captain, emphasizing the need for air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians.

Robillard suggested the LIFT model could be used for other sectors. "This is not just a one-time collaboration," he said. "There's room for more collaboration in the future" in areas such as green technology or health sciences.

The partnership could access federal support for program development. The Federal Aviation Administration offers Aviation Workforce Development Grants of up to $1 million annually for aviation maintenance technical worker programs and similar grants for aircraft pilot training programs.

The unanimous vote authorized City Manager Mike Futrell or his designee to execute the memorandums of understanding.