Page 16 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2019 Online Magazine

Members of the Aeronautical Repair Station more than three dozen organizations, representing a cross section
Association’s 2018 who responded to a survey of the aviation industry, wrote to the US Transportation secretary
picked the technician shortage as the biggest and sought full funding for the aviation technician and pilot recruit-
strategic threat to the US$47 billion main- ment and education programs created by the 2018 Federal Aviation
tenance industry. More than 80 percent of Administration (FAA) reauthorization law.
respondents reported difficulty finding quali-
fied technicians; more than 50 percent of the The programmes, which have been authorized US$5 million each,
responding companies said they had unfilled are intended to facilitate collaboration between schools, state and
positions. According to the Aviation Technician local government entities, businesses and labor organizations to
Education Council, new entrants make up only attract and educate technicians and pilots. Under the law, avi-
two percent of the aviation technician popula- ation technical workforce grants can be used for scholarships,
tion annually, compared to 30 percent of the apprenticeships, establishing new training programs, purchasing
workforce being at or near retirement age. equipment for schools and supporting career transition for mem-
bers of the armed forces. Among the issues that have negatively
With the center of gravity of the aviation indus- impacted the growth of the AMT workforce is the prevailing negative
try moving to Asia Pacific, it is no surprise perceptions of hands-on skilled labor. This has caused substantial
that the region, which is expected to see the talent loss; according to the Aviation Technical Education Council
induction of nearly 17,000 new aircraft by 2037, (ATEC), close to 30 percent of graduates from certified aviation
will need more qualified technicians than any maintenance schools end ultimately pursue work in other indus-
other. Of the total global demand for 754,000 tries. According to industry experts, the overall lack of awareness
AMTs, Asia Pacific will account for 257,000 of aviation maintenance careers, even among those looking for
with North America in second position with technical careers, hasn’t helped as well.
a demand for 189,000 new technicians. The
demand in Europe will be for 132,000 new The biggest stumbling block in the US, however, has been the delay
technicians while the Middle East and Latin in revising Part 147, the regulations that govern the training curric-
America will follow with 66,000 and 55,000 ulum and certification of AMTs. Industry players are in favor of the
respectively. Africa will experience a demand prescriptive curriculum language being removed to allow educa-
for 28,000 new AMTs while Russia / Central tional institutions the flexibility to develop relevant industry-based
Asia will require 27,000. curriculum using today’s educational design methodologies, but

Government Help Sought Part 147 has not changed significantly in 50 years even though
Even as MRO companies do their bit to ensure the industry and related technologies have changed beyond rec-
new talent joins the workforce, there has been ognition. The FAA is said to be working on adopting new Airman
a concerted effort on part of the aviation indus- Certification Standards and a major revamp of Part 147 regulations,
try in the US to ensure that the government but two previous attempts at revising the rules, in 1994 and 1998,
extends a helping hand. In February this year, were dropped following industry pushback.

16 | March/April 2019 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ AAA