Written by Representative Stephanie Dietz
For Northern Kentucky, the words aviation and aerospace represent far more than industries—they represent economic opportunity, innovation, and good-paying jobs. Northern Kentucky is home to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), the seventh-largest cargo airport in North America, with DHL and Amazon cargo hubs on site. Our airport not only attracts major investments and fuels economic growth but also establishes the region as a hub for aviation and aerospace manufacturing.
However, the power of aviation and aerospace extends far beyond Northern Kentucky, touching every corner of the state through an extensive network of general aviation and commercial airports.
To maintain Kentucky’s leadership and competitiveness in the future of air travel, the General Assembly proactively established the Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force, which I had the honor of co-chairing this legislative interim. Our goal was to get a comprehensive view of industry trends and our state’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sectors to help guide future policy decisions.
In pursuit of this goal, we invited industry experts, state agencies, higher education institutions, and community organizations to share their expertise, experiences, insights, and needs. Testimony included discussion of Kentucky’s aviation and aerospace infrastructure, education initiatives, and workforce needs; industry innovation, particularly in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector; and strategies other states use to support industry growth. This testimony served as the foundation for the task force’s six findings and 10 recommendations, a few of which I want to highlight.
Based on testimony, one thing became clear: aviation is a major industry in Kentucky, requiring a skilled workforce to meet industry demands and growth. Our task force found that airports and air carriers have a growing necessity for a large skilled workforce, with shortages in aircraft mechanics, pilots, air traffic controllers, and other critical positions. Although the Commonwealth offers several industry-related educational programs, industry retirements continue to outpace new workforce entries.
As a result, our task force recommends that the General Assembly support education initiatives by expansion of post-secondary aviation programs, K-12 education and outreach, and developing more aviation maintenance technician (AMT) programs throughout the Commonwealth.
Supporting this major industry not only requires addressing workforce needs but also adopting new technologies. Our task force found that AAM is the future of the aerospace industry, bringing innovation to emergency medical transportation, cargo logistics efficiency, and passenger transportation. Many states, anticipating increased use of this technology, are putting in place legislative and regulatory frameworks for AAM vehicles and technology— something currently lacking in Kentucky.
Therefore, we recommend that the General Assembly develop a strategic plan and pass legislation for the implementation, regulation, and use of AAM vehicles.
To further support industry growth, we also found that Kentucky needs investment in critical infrastructure to support increased needs of airports for electricity, data storage, and fuel production. This need is driven by the onset of new technologies and corporate goals from companies, like DHL and Amazon, to increase usage of alternative aviation fuels.
Therefore, we recommend that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, in conjunction with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, with an investment of $500,000, study the infrastructure needs for the aviation industry and identify gaps in electricity, fuel, data use and storage, charging ports, land availability, and other necessary utilities as the industry progresses. We also recommend that the General Assembly support, investigate, and consider investment in alternative aviation fuel production, refining, and transportation.
While our task force findings and recommendations provide a strong framework for future policymaking, our work is far from over. As we approach the upcoming session, I remain committed to supporting investments and policies that support industry growth in our region and state, positioning Kentucky as a leader in these sectors for years to come.
To view the full list of task force findings and recommendations, please visit legislature.ky.gov.
Representative Stephanie Dietz represents Kentucky’s 65th House District, which includes part of Kenton County. She served as House Chair of the Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force during the 2025 Legislative Interim.