Aviation View - Oct 2023

11 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 YOU THOUGHT THE PILOT SHORTAGE WAS BAD? TRY TECHNICIANS ORLANDO—While the pilot shortage is a prominent issue facing today’s ongoing staffing challenges, it oftentimes takes the spotlight away from another specialty whose workforce shortage is equally dire to the long-term health of the aviation industry–Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs). At this year’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, Florida, a session was held to address the issue of growing the aviation maintenance workforce. Traditionally, competition between Part 91 and 135 shops for both airframe and powerplant (A&P) and repairmen has been stiff, as this industry segment often supports both business operations and the general aviation sector. This year, NBAA promoted collaboration in the session so that attendees who employ AMTs could relate their hiring woes and brainstorm potential solutions. According to Boeing’s Pilot and Technician Outlook 2022-41, there will be a projected global demand for 610,000 civil aviation AMTs over the next 20 years, compared to a need for 602,000 new pilots, excluding business aviation. The consensus in the session was clear that filling the much-needed pilot slots is meaningless unless a new AMT is also added to the workforce. Another theme among the group was recognizing how the socially accepted norm of immediately pursuing a four-year degree upon graduating high school, as opposed to pursuing a trade that may provide more direction and quicker financial gains, is still a stigma that is alive and well. Stewart D’Leon, who is NBAA’s director for environmental and technical operations and has a background in aviation maintenance, OPENING L INES