Samantha Cartaino

This year’s Florida Aviation Business Association’s (FABA) annual conference in Orlando addressed the lack of qualified aviation professionals in the industry. Speakers such as Kathy Knowles, CPO of Intuitive Strategies and former HR director at Banyan Air, offered solutions on how to tackle the issue.

 


Knowles, who has more than 25 years of experience in corporate aviation, leads a series of online education programs that explore different techniques on how to navigate changes in leadership in the workplace.&nbsp; At the FABA Conference, she held two workshops on the lack of qualified aviation professionals and leadership practices.

 


During the first workshop, Knowles presented solutions including developing aviation career programs, searching for applicants in non-traditional ways, announcing job openings through social media, and using videos and webinars to make hiring companies stand out to applicants searching for jobs. In her other workshop, Knowles discussed leadership techniques that can be used for bridging age gaps in the workplace, developing communication throughout companies, and creating responsible teams.

 


When it comes to interviewing applicants, Knowles gave some advice, saying “that it really is more about storytelling.&nbsp;You want to ask behavior-based questions that get the candidate talking about examples of past work that help to assess whether they can do the job.”

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

FABA Confab Addresses Aviation Professional Shortage

Speakers such as Kathy Knowles, CPO of Intuitive Strategies, offered solutions on how to tackle the issue.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

Charles Alcock

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support 

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

AIN Staff

In a Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) roundtable on retention, an aviation staffing expert and flight department leaders traded hard-won lessons on money, culture, and knowing who you’re really competing with.

More In Training and Workforce