SHREVEPORT, La. — Neu Aviation will host a flight school open house Oct. 17 at the Shreveport Downtown Airport to highlight pilot training opportunities as the aviation industry faces a nationwide pilot shortage.

The event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, will include aircraft tours, flight simulator demonstrations, and discussions with instructors and maintenance staff about aviation careers. Enrollment information for training programs will also be available.

“Most people don’t even know that world-class pilot training is happening right here in Shreveport,” said Collin Neu, CEO and chief pilot of Neu Aviation. “With the nationwide pilot shortage, careers in aviation have never been more in demand, and our open house is a chance for the community to see that those opportunities are closer than they think.”

Neu Aviation, which operates at the Shreveport Downtown Airport, is one of the area’s only flight schools with a Gold Seal Certified instructor. The company offers training for aspiring airline pilots, recreational flyers, and business owners.

The Federal Aviation Administration projects that thousands of new pilots will be needed over the next decade to meet growing travel demand. Neu Aviation officials said the school aims to prepare local students for those opportunities without requiring them to leave Northwest Louisiana.

The open house is free and open to the public.