Flight Paths for All: Breaking Down Barriers in Aviation

What if becoming a pilot wasn’t a dream reserved for the few—but a real career path for young people in underserved communities? In this inspiring conversation, Dana Donati, CEO of Breaking Down Barriers.org, shares how their aviation nonprofit is rewriting the narrative on who gets to fly.

Founded by former American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and his wife, Gwen, Breaking Down Barriers takes flight training and mentorship directly into Dallas communities where aviation has historically been out of reach. From first-grade classrooms to community colleges, Dana and her team spark interest in aviation careers early—well before the traditional fork-in-the-road moments of college or military service.

Dana explains, “Becoming a pilot is expensive. So sometimes that automatically pushes out the group of people that have the skill, just don’t have the financial means.” That’s where Breaking Down Barriers steps in—with scholarships, mentorship, and ongoing support that go beyond one-time transactions. Students sign a promise on day one: not just to succeed, but to return and uplift others in their community.

In a sector facing a massive talent gap, especially post-pandemic, this model isn’t just feel-good—it’s workforce development at its finest. Dana outlines how they rotate mentors every three months to give students exposure to multiple professionals and expand their aviation networks—replacing outdated “lifelong mentor” models with something more agile and sustainable.

This conversation goes beyond aviation. It becomes a blueprint for how nonprofits can foster generational change by focusing on access, exposure, and reinvestment. From field trips to local airports to connecting aviation with brands kids already know—McDonald's, John Deere, Disney—Dana's team finds innovative ways to plant seeds of possibility.

For nonprofits wrestling with how to reach and shape future professionals, Breaking Down Barriers offers more than a flight path—it offers a runway.

 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction
 00:01:37 What Breaking Down Barriers Does
 00:02:39 Addressing the Pilot Shortage
 00:04:08 Aviation Career Pathways Beyond the Military
 00:06:27 Identifying and Removing Career Barriers
 00:07:58 The Cost Barrier and Financial Support
 00:08:32 The Power of Mentorship and Networking
 00:10:17 Rotating Mentors to Build Aviation Networks
 00:11:47 Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising
 00:14:21 Students Pledging to Give Back
 00:16:19 Dana’s Personal Aviation Origin Story
 00:20:24 Capturing and Sharing Student Success Stories
 00:22:54 The Role of Workforce Development in Education
 00:24:53 How to Inspire Young Students Toward Aviation 

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