Boeing Wraps Inaugural AeroSTAR Youth Aviation Program
The pilot program trained 216 students across five nations to address future aviation workforce demand.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Internships
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High school students from five countries recently completed the inaugural AeroSTAR program, a 60-hour training initiative focused on aviation and career development. Participants from Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and the UAE competed to attend a regional camp in Amman to conclude the training.
Why it matters
The program aims to connect students with mentors and potential employers to help them make informed career decisions as the industry prepares for a major workforce shortage. Boeing projects a need for 311,000 new aviation professionals in the Middle East and Africa over the next two decades.
The AeroSTAR program hosted 216 students aged 15 to 18 who completed 60 hours of training. Boeing forecasts a labor demand of 236,000 new professionals in the Middle East and 75,000 in Africa by 2046.
The players
Boeing
This multinational aerospace corporation designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide.
Joramco
This major independent commercial aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider is based in Amman.
Queen Alia International Airport
This is the primary international airport serving Amman and the largest airport in Jordan.
The details
Students engaged in curriculum covering leadership, problem-solving, and communication before advancing through national project-pitching contests to the regional camp. While in Amman, the group visited Joramco and Queen Alia International Airport to gain direct exposure to aviation operations.
Timeline
October 9-12, 2026: Regional camp held in Amman.
October 13, 2026: Program completion announced.
October 2026: Applications for the next cohort open.
Market Landscape
This program aligns with Boeing's long-term aviation workforce demand projections. The initiative acts as a strategic talent pipeline development effort to combat the anticipated industry shortage across emerging markets.
Students aged 15 to 18 in the participating nations can track the opening of the next application cycle to access this specialized training. The program provides a direct route for young people to connect with industry professionals and prepare for careers in aviation.
The takeaway
The AeroSTAR initiative demonstrates how private companies are partnering with regional youth to address future labor gaps. Students interested in the aerospace sector should look for similar regional training opportunities that bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice.
What happens next
Applications for the next AeroSTAR cohort are scheduled to open in October 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about early career development in our Internships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yabiladi.
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