Gallery: 2021 Outlook for Aviation Maintenance Technicians

Boeing’s 2020-39 Pilot & Technician Outlook projects that the industry will need 739,000 new aviation maintenance technicians (AMT) through 2038. Demand will be highest in the Asia-Pacific region and Boeing expects that new technologies adopted for technician training during the pandemic will continue long-term.
 

Read the article in full - Boeing Expects MRO Workforce Demand To Remain High, Despite Downturn by Lindsay Bjerregaard

Grants issued under the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technical Workforce Grant Program could be key to reinvigorating the MRO workforce, which lost many workers and investment in recruitment programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will give out grants of $25,000-500,000 for a wide range of workforce development activities, such as scholarships and apprenticeships, career outreach to students and underrepresented communities and military-to-civilian transitions.
 

Read the article in full - How Maintenance Workforce Grants Could Support Industry Recovery by Christian A. Klein

Aviation maintenance students faced a whole new set of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the shift toward online learning and industry-wide hiring freezes. However, they are remaining optimistic that the MRO industry will stay a stable career path since aircraft will continue to need maintenance.
 

Read the article in full - Aviation Maintenance Students On Challenges Facing Next-Gen Workforce by Lindsay Bjerregaard

Women still make up less than 3% of the certificated workforce within MRO, despite industry initiatives to draw women to STEM careers. Female AMTs report that in order to attract and keep women in MRO jobs, the industry needs to do a better job of changing deep-rooted cultural biases and providing better resources for women, such as properly sized personal protective equipment, help with childcare and mentorship.
 

Read the article in full - Tackling Gender Barriers In Aviation Maintenance by Lindsay Bjerregaard

MRO industry stakeholders are reporting difficulty in finding enough qualified AMTs with avionics skills. Companies such as AJW Technique and Avionics Specialist say most aviation maintenance school curriculum is not up to par with demand in the industry. They add that it typically takes a significant amount of internal training to get new AMTs up to speed on electrical systems.
 

Read the article in full - MRO Industry Seeks More Multiskilled Technicians by James Pozzi

Computer and battery systems in advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft will require new skillsets for AMTs. Determining when batteries need to be changed and performing battery swaps on electric-powered aircraft will challenge technicians when it comes to figuring out appropriate maintenance intervals and learning high-voltage safety procedures. Software-centric systems will be a departure from traditional wrench-turning and the sheer number of new AAM systems coming out will mean that students preparing to enter MRO careers need to focus more on foundational knowledge than on memorizing maintenance manuals.
 

Read the article in full - Readying Next-Generation AMTs For Emerging Technologies by Lindsay Bjerregaard