After retiring as CEO of the world’s largest airline, Doug Parker and his wife Gwen dedicated themselves to launching a nonprofit focused on breaking down the barriers that prevent people from becoming airline pilots.

Becoming a pilot is a demanding and respected profession that requires a broad range of skills and intelligence. However, longstanding financial and systemic challenges have made it disproportionately difficult for individuals from vulnerable populations and under-championed communities to pursue aviation careers. The industry cannot fully reach its potential until these barriers are addressed.

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Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) is committed to eliminating obstacles that prevent talented young adults, particularly those from underserved areas and vulnerable geographies, from entering and thriving in the field of aviation. This includes addressing the high financial cost of flight training, which continues to be one of the largest barriers to entry.

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We see a tremendous opportunity to change the trajectory of individuals and communities who have historically lacked access to this field. Our initial focus is on identifying and supporting high-achieving students in the Dallas, Texas region who have the aptitude to succeed in aviation but lack access to the necessary resources, with plans to expand nationally to reach additional regions and aviation career pathways.

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BDB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to remove financial barriers while offering mentorship, outreach, and education to ensure high-achieving students from under-resourced backgrounds have a clear path to success. We are passionate about opening doors and creating opportunities where few have existed and we invite you to join us in transforming the future of aviation, one barrier at a time.