April 17, 2026
Participating students from Morgan Park High School stand with Barrington Irving, Atlantic Aviation, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Area Business Aviation Association on behalf of National Business Aviation Association, and Chicago Department of Aviation at the program launch event announcing the BITTS program in Chicago.
As a group of Chicago-area high school students stepped onto the ramp at Atlantic Aviation’s facility at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) April 16 for a firsthand look at business aviation, they may have also taken an exciting step toward promising careers, thanks to an important new workforce partnership.
The collaboration, developed by Atlantic Aviation, Capt. Barrington Irving and Chicago Public Schools, is part of the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) program.
It will provide Morgan Park High School students with hands-on exposure to aviation careers, including aircraft maintenance and operations, along with access to training and internship opportunities – helping to build the industry’s talent pipeline in the process.
During the event, 12 students gathered near business aircraft, speaking directly with technicians and aviation professionals about their work and how they entered the field.
Having already spent several weeks in Irving’s BITTS program, the students came prepared with thoughtful questions about entering the industry – how to get started, what career pathways look like and how to build connections with mentors and potential employers. One student, interested in marketing, asked how Atlantic Aviation identifies and reaches its clients.
“At Atlantic, we believe aviation should be accessible to anyone with the drive to pursue it,” said Jeff Foland, chief executive officer of Atlantic Aviation. “This initiative is about opening doors – connecting students to real opportunities and showing them what’s possible. We’re proud to partner with Capt. Irving, Chicago Public Schools and the city of Chicago to help build a stronger, more inclusive future for our industry.”
Front left to right: Jeff Foland, Atlantic Aviation CEO; Norah Lenardic, Chicago Area Business Aviation Association board member; Capt. Barrington Irving; Armando Rodriguez, Chicago Public Schools Deputy Chief of College and Career Success; Rena Neely, Chicago Department of Aviation Assistant Commissioner, and Bernard Young, Atlantic Aviation General Manager at MDW.
Designed to connect students with meaningful, real-world opportunities, the program focuses on those seeking alternative pathways to success – introducing them to rewarding careers that don’t always require a traditional four-year degree. The initiative also supports Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s efforts to strengthen connections between the city’s industries and its future workforce.
As the aviation industry is projected to require thousands of pilots, maintenance technicians and other professionals during the next decade to keep pace with growth and retirements, programs like this one play a critical role in building early awareness and expanding access, helping students see what’s possible and where they belong in the industry.
“I know firsthand how powerful access and opportunity can be,” said Irving. “When young people are given the chance to step into this world and see what’s possible, it can change the trajectory of their lives. That’s what this program is all about – meeting students where they are and helping them take that first step.”
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen emphasized that point in a letter read at the event by Norah Lenardic, vice president of aircraft management at EJM and a board member of the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association.
“This collaboration represents an important milestone – for the city of Chicago, for countless students and for the future of our industry itself,” Bolen wrote in the letter. “By bringing together Atlantic Aviation’s leadership, Barrington’s vision and the energy and talent of Chicago’s students, you’re not just launching a program – you’re establishing a pathway to a future filled with limitless promise.”
Bolen also noted NBAA’s longstanding relationship with Irving, including his recognition with the association’s American Spirit Award. In the years since, that collaboration has expanded to include student engagement and workforce initiatives tied to NBAA events.
View the tribute video NBAA produced in connection with the presentation of the 2019 NBAA American Spirit Award to Capt. Irving.
Lenardic, attending on behalf of NBAA, emphasized the importance of coordination between national and regional organizations.
“The event was really inspiring, and it was eye-opening to see how involved Atlantic Aviation is in workforce initiatives, especially here in Chicago,” she said. “In nearly 40 years in this industry, I’ve rarely been in a room with so many young women, which was incredibly encouraging.
“We don’t always realize how much of a difference we can make just by showing up. Having the opportunity to connect with students – even briefly – can leave a lasting impression,” she continued. “As Barrington pointed out, mentorship can take many forms, whether it’s a single conversation or a long-term relationship.”
The program’s Chicago launch builds on the continued growth of BITTS, which has introduced students in multiple regions to careers in business aviation and technical training opportunities.
Irving’s work through BITTS has focused on helping students see aviation as an attainable career through mentorship and direct exposure to the field. Watch an NBAA-TV Live segment featuring a discussion with Irving about his approach to inspiring the next generation.
The Chicago initiative also highlights the role of fixed-base operators such as Atlantic Aviation in supporting workforce development by opening their facilities to students and educators, helping bridge the gap between education and careers in aviation.
“Congratulations once again to all of you for combining your professionalism and your passion in service to the next generation of aviation leaders,” Bolen wrote.
Organizers expect the program to expand, with the goal of reaching more students and strengthening connections between education and the aviation workforce.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.