TAMPA, Fla. — There are hundreds of thousands of pilots in the United States but a small percentage are part of minority communities.  

What You Need To Know

  • The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals' ACE academy hosts middle and high school students interested in a career in aviation

  • According to the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, less than 4% of commercial pilots in the country are black

  • The ACE Academy isn't only in Tampa but in nearly 40 cities across the country

According to the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, less than 4% of commercial pilots in the country are black. 

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals is trying to change that through its Aerospace Career Education Academy, also known as ACE, a week-long camp run by the organization.

It gives middle and high school students like Zniya Hargrove a peak into what a career in aviation may look like. 

“I love that you can see everything so close instead of being like, you know in the sky, you look down when you’re on an airplane and all you can see is green and stuff,” she said. “You can see the houses and pools and the cars.”

Floyd Balentine, the Director of the Tampa ACE academy, said opportunities like this didn’t exist when he was growing up in Minneapolis.

Through the camp, he wants to help inspire the next generation of pilots. 

“We want people of color to know that it’s possible,” he said. “You know, growing up where I grew up, I always knew that I could do it, but I just never knew how to.” 

In May, President Biden signed into law legislation that will provide $240 million to address the shortage of pilots. 

Georgia Senator Reverand Warnock said this will allow for greater diversity in the industry. 

The ACE Academy isn’t only in Tampa but in nearly 40 cities across the country.