NBAA has kicked off the initial stage of a new mentoring program that partners industry veterans with individuals interested in pursuing opportunities in business aviation. The association called the initial phase a “beta” version of the program, which involves the pairing of 20 sets of people based on their collective interests and goals.

The first group encompasses a diverse group of individuals, NBAA said, including college students, people looking to step up in their careers, and those at a crossroads in their careers. Mentees might be facing transitions in their flight departments, looking to move up from turboprop to jet operations, or beginning international operations, the association added. In one case, a mentee is an experienced business executive who wants to learn about aviation. “The great thing about the program is it’s designed for everyone,” said Brian Koester, NBAA’s manager of operations.

A steering group created the program with input from NBAA’s Young Professionals Council, the association’s Domestic Operations and Business Aviation Management Committees, and staff members. The association built a list of potential mentors over the past couple of years through a membership survey and email notices.

The initial program is anticipated to run from January through June, followed by a nine-month program to begin in September 2019. NBAA is eyeing launching a full mentoring program in fall 2020.