Capt. John Blum, Associate Professor and Program Director for the Professional Pilot program at Lone Star College-Montgomery, has been elected to serve on the University Aviation Association (UAA) Board of Trustees. The UAA is the voice of collegiate aviation to its members, the industry, government and the general public.
“I look forward to working with the UAA team and all of its members to advance the quality and depth of aviation degree programs across our industry,” said Blum, whose term begins Jan. 1, 2023. “The UAA plays a vital role in the advancement of degree-granting aviation and I am proud to be able to be a part of the important work.”
The LSC Professional Pilot program provides the flight training and academic education to prepare students for a career as a professional pilot. Students who successfully complete the program earn an Associate of Applied Science, Professional Pilot degree.
“The airline industry is facing a severe pilot shortage with the greatest impact felt among regional airlines,” said Rebecca L. Riley, Ed.D., LSC-Montgomery President. “Capt. Blum will be a terrific asset to the UAA and ensure higher education continues to address this issue.”
There are currently 104 students enrolled in the program which boasts a 92% first-time licensing pass rate.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted there are approximately 18,100 openings for airline and commercial pilots projected each year over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, including those who retire.
Visit LoneStar.edu/Professional-Pilot-AAS to learn more about how LSC is working to address the airline and commercial pilot shortage.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education, ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.