Aviation

WHEREAS, the field of aviation annually presents thousands of lucrative opportunities for employment and economic development; and

WHEREAS, only a small fraction of all Americans working as professions in the field of aviation are African American; and

WHEREAS, only a tiny fraction of all American businesses working in the field of aviation are African American owned and operated companies; and

WHEREAS, during the last six years, no appreciable gains have been made in the hiring of African Americans to work as aviation professionals or in engaging African American owned and operated companies to conduct business in the aviation field; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirm its previous resolution regarding aviation, which was adopted in 2000 and entitled, "Aviation Programs for African American Youth;" and

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP call upon the federal government to annually issue reports on the numbers of African Americans applying for and being hired in aviation-related positions with all branches of the military and with the Federal Aviation Administration; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP annually issue a report card (similar to that issued for hotels) on the private sector of the aviation industry, specifically grading airlines on the numbers of African Americans working as pilots and in professional administration positions as well as on the numbers of contracted African American businesses.