With a donated 9,600 square foot building at the Franklin County State Airport, this women-led apprenticeship program is preparing the next generation of airplane mechanics, pilots, and avionics specialists through hands-on experiences where participants build, repair, and ultimately fly real aircraft. As the aviation industry continues to grow, it is projected to face a shortage of 43,000 qualified aircraft maintainers by 2027. Habitat for Aviation is creating a new pathway into these high-demand careers while building a replicable model that could expand educational opportunity and workforce readiness well beyond Vermont. The organization’s most compelling innovation is their apprenticeship model, which is fully integrated into the school day through Vermont’s Flexible Pathways framework. This approach allows students to gain real-world aviation experience while earning academic credit at no cost to the student.