Young Kentuckians will have a way to get their wings thanks to a program coming to the Commonwealth's high schools.

The public and private sector came together at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky earlier this week for the unveiling of the Kentucky Aviation career preparation curriculum.

With an almost $8 billion impact, approximately 130,000 jobs.

I think the importance of aviation and aerospace is paramount to Kentucky's future.

The aviation aerospace industry is so critical and it covers a wide spectrum from small, local to regional airports to massive airports in Louisville and northern Kentucky.

Not only from a commercial transportation aspect, but also from a cargo and logistics perspective.

And a lot of the major retailers and other companies that must have adequate air transportation to move their goods and services is so critical to Kentucky's economy, both directly and indirectly.

It is an industry that's so big, so large that it can't function autonomously.

The businesses need to connect with schools.

They need to connect with workforce development programs.

They need to build relationships and systems, and they need to work together to help develop that workforce in the future.

It's incumbent upon workforce professionals, education professionals, to make young people aware of the career preparation curriculum and the pathway towards aviation industry, jobs and careers.

What we've been able to do with Team Kentucky is develop a curriculum, a one semester course that speaks directly to those soft skills.

It can be either a stand alone course or it can be done in conjunction with the AOPA Foundation High School Aviation STEM curriculum.

It is targeted for high school.

The curriculum is an add on to our four year to CTE pathway and professional development program.

So we've got a pilot program, we've got an unmanned aerial aircraft systems program as well.

So that is a four year program free for implement, but it provides them an absolute great understanding of aviation content, knowledge and the practical hand and hands on skills to help set them up for success in aviation that's going to prepare them to enter the workforce, is going to prepare them for internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

But most of all, it's going to keep Kentucky aviation industry in aerospace going strong for years to come.

Up here at 3000 feet.

There are 59 public use airports in the state, according to a study from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The airport support over 23,000 jobs with an annual payroll of almost a billion and a half dollars.