Amy Wilder is a private pilot with more than two decades of experience as a writer and editor in a career spanning journalism, marketing, and communications. 
She has worked in aviation journalism since 2023, combining a lifelong passion for flight and a love of the aviation community with a penchant for storytelling. As a licensed pilot, she brings firsthand insight to the stories she covers, lending an authentic, on-the-ground perspective to industry coverage.
She holds a Master of Arts in Eastern Classics and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, both from St. John&#039;s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Culture.

Writer

Amy Wilder

U.S. student loans could become more accessible for aspiring pilots, aircraft mechanics, and air traffic controllers under a bipartisan House bill that would classify aviation degrees as professional degrees under federal policy.
The <a href="https://beatty.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/beatty-evo.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/beatty_025_xml.pdf">Workforce Innovation for Next-Gen in Skies (WINGS) Act</a> was introduced by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and co-sponsored by Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and Frederica Wilson (D-Florida). More than a dozen universities and several industry stakeholders have expressed support for the legislation.
“We thank Representatives Beatty, Stefanik and Wilson for recognizing that financial constraints are among the obstacles confronting those seeking careers in aviation,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “This legislation will help remove those barriers, ensuring talented individuals are able to complete the education and training needed to pursue rewarding vocations in an essential American industry.”
NBAA senior v-p of education, training and workforce development Jo Damato, previously identified the cost of aviation education as one of the greatest barriers to entry into aviation careers in testimony before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Aviation Subcommittee. Damato drew that conclusion from her service on the Department of Transportation’s Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force, which recommended developing financial support mechanisms of the kind reflected in the WINGS Act.

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

U.S. Bill Would Expand Federal Student Loans for Aviation Career Tracks

Bipartisan legislation targets financial barriers to aviation education

The U.S. bipartisan WINGS Act would expand federal student loan access for pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers by reclassifying aviation degrees.

U.S. Bill Would Open Student Loans for Aviation Degrees

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Volunteer pilots are flying human trafficking survivors to new lives through Freedom Aviation Network, where altitude becomes the first step toward freedom

Beyond the Clouds, Rising above Danger

Jessica Reed

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.

People in Aviation - August 2026

People in Aviation—August 2026

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.

Tool cross-references type ratings, training records for short- and long-term roles

CrewBlast Debuts AI Tool To Vet Crew Credentials

Charles Alcock

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.

Oxford center trains pilots, maintenance technicians, and managers

Airbus Helicopters Opens UK Training Academy

Sheryl Barden

NBAA's Mentoring Network helps build business aviation’s next generation

AINsight: Investing Beyond Your Own Team via Mentoring

Curt Epstein

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

The company offers training in the U.S., Spain, and Singapore

Bell Training Academy Reaches New Flight Hour Peak

Kerry Lynch

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.

More In Training and Workforce

Beyond the Clouds, Rising above Danger

Volunteer pilots are flying human trafficking survivors to new lives through Freedom Aviation Network, where altitude becomes the first step toward freedom

People in Aviation—August 2026

People in Aviation - August 2026

CrewBlast Debuts AI Tool To Vet Crew Credentials

Tool cross-references type ratings, training records for short- and long-term roles

Airbus Helicopters Opens UK Training Academy

Oxford center trains pilots, maintenance technicians, and managers

AINsight: Investing Beyond Your Own Team via Mentoring

NBAA's Mentoring Network helps build business aviation’s next generation

Bell Training Academy Reaches New Flight Hour Peak

The company offers training in the U.S., Spain, and Singapore

Leonardo Increases Collaborations with CAE, Lockheed Martin

New deals cover training, services

Foundation Pledges $1M For EAA Aviation Discovery Park

Donation serves as a continuation of the late Tracy Forrest’s aviation philanthropy

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