During a weekly Riverside City Council meeting, officials proposed an agreement focused on expanding aviation education and career opportunities between the city and several local learning institutions, including California Baptist University.
Council member Steven Robillard introduced the proposal during the Jan. 27 meeting, according to the City of Riverside website. The initiative, called the Learning Institute for Flight Technology or LIFT, was not a single program or facility but a shared brand and organizing platform. The proposal brought together the Riverside Unified School District, Alvord Unified School District, Riverside City College, the University of California, Riverside and California Baptist University in partnership with the City of Riverside to support collaborative growth in aviation and aerospace education.
Future phases of LIFT also allowed industry partners to join the collaboration, which aimed to strengthen workforce alignment and support long-term growth within the Riverside community.
The Federal Aviation Administration projected a need for 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028. The FAA also forecast a 10 to 20 percent shortage of aviation technicians and mechanics by 2028 and a shortage of 24,000 pilots by 2026. If left unaddressed, these shortages could affect regional operational efficiency and safety.
Riverside Airport already served as a training hub for local pilots, with CBU among the institutions using the airport for aviation education.
Together, these factors highlighted potential benefits for the Riverside community by remaining at the forefront of aviation instruction and workforce development.
“The purpose [of LIFT] is to make sure Riverside is proactive, not reactive, about the future of aerospace and advanced manufacturing jobs,” Robillard said.
Although officials still needed to finalize details between the city and participating institutions for the first phase, organizers expected the LIFT platform to launch by the end of June 2027. Robillard explained during the meeting that the extended timeline focused on “intentionally laying the foundation before building the structure.”
Mark Howe, CBU’s vice president for finance and administration, addressed the City Council on behalf of the university and expressed enthusiasm about participating in LIFT.
“I appreciate the opportunity to work with our colleagues here at the other institutions on this particular project…we are looking to be part of the collation that brings opportunities for our students and our graduates,” Howe said.
CBU’s flight program enrolled more than 300 students and operated 18 aircraft, positioning the university to prioritize student preparation for future careers in aviation.
