Flying High over Fresno Nonprofit Aviation

In the Southwest of Fresno where economic challenges limit access to opportunity, New Vision Aviation is helping young people take flight.

“Our goal was to create a pathway for our youth to get into this industry which offers very high paying jobs,” says Joseph Oldham, President of New Vision Aviation.

The aviation industry offers strong wages and growing demand, but access has long been limited. This program is working to change that.

Founded in 2018, the nonprofit provides aviation training to youth across Fresno County, particularly those from underserved communities. Through grants and donations, students are able to begin flight training at little to no cost.

Becoming a pilot can be both expensive and time consuming requiring at least 1,500 flight hours before qualifying for airline jobs.

Oldham says the program continues to grow, with about 15 to 20 active students most of them high school and college aged. He says the nonprofit has the capacity to take on more students and encourages young people to consider aviation as a career path.

Students in the program say it’s helping open doors in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated. Brigitte Maravilla says knowing there is a shortage of pilots make the opportunity feel more within reach. “It’s a male dominated field, but knowing there’s a shortage of pilots makes it feel like there’s real opportunity,” she said.

Oldham says the program is about more than flight training, it’s about changing perceptions. He says many people in the community, especially people of color, have historically felt aviation was out of reach due to cost and lack of exposure.

The program doesn’t offer multi engine training however, Oldham says they help students take the next steps by connecting them to additional certifications.

One student who joined in 2022 has already become a certified flight instructor at just 18 years old, showing there is a clear pathway to building a career.

As the program continues to grow leaders say they’re looking to bring in more students and expand opportunities helping build a pathway to high paying aviation careers right here in Fresno.