Not Enough Aviation Mechanics

United Airlines is taking proactive steps to hire 7,000 new aircraft mechanics, said Kate Gebo, United's EVP of human resources and labor relations. According to Gebo, United’s biggest challenge is hiring for this area. To create a larger pool, United initiated a 36-month apprenticeship program called Calibrate, which is now open only to current employees but will expand it to the public [Business Insider, 2023].

The wave of aging baby boomers and not enough Generation Z workers is being felt in aviation maintenance. According to United, their workforce is very senior, and 40% to 50% of their technician are retirement eligible.

According to Boeing, aviation technicians will need to inspect, repair, and restore aircraft to airworthiness, as air traffic increases and aircraft come out of storage. Additional labor will be needed in the near term. Aviation mechanic roles will also evolve as new generations of aircraft are adding airline livery. IoT-enabled predictive analytics and innovations will require mechanics who understand and know how to analyze and act on the information generated. Boeing expects the industry will need 610,000 technicians by 2041. [Boeing, 2022].

Oliver Wyman project that the aviation mechanic shortage will begin this year. In a recent report, Oliver Wyman anticipates a shortfall of between 12,000 and 18,000 aviation maintenance workers in 2023 [Oliver Wyman, 2023]. By 2027, the worst case scenario has the supply deficit at more than 48,000 aircraft maintenance workers, or 27% deficit. Oliver Wyman more likely scenario predicts a gap of almost 43,000, or more than 24%.

The pain from the shortage will affect everyone in the industry from the smallest MRO to the largest airline. Since they serve as a gateway for mechanics to mainline carriers like United, independent MROs and regional airlines will likely feel the effects the most from the shortage.

How does the industry combat the labor shortage? Paying higher wages is one way that airlines have been attracting more talent with pilots. The challenge is the cost structures is up due to pilot salaries. Automation is another option. Automating as much as possible could increase the productivity of the existing labor force.

One of the most promising options for employers over the decade is to nurture an expansion in the pool of mechanic candidates. Currently, most mechanics are white and male. For instance, only 2.7% are women [FAA]. The aviation industry needs more outreach to female and minority populations, even as young as those still in middle school, to educate them on the career possibilities. In addition to diversity, the industry also needs to work with the FAA to incorporate more cutting-edge technology into the training, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and drones to make the profession more engaging for Gen Z workers.

References:

• “United said it needs to hire 7,000 aircraft mechanics as a looming shortage threatens to disrupt the industry,” Business Insider, 27 June 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/united-hiring-7000-mechanics-amid-technician-shortage-could-impact-operations-2023-5
• “Pilot Technician Outlook, Boeing, 2022. https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/market/assets/downloads/2022-Pilot-Technician-Outlook.pdf
• “Not Encough Aviation Mechanics,” Oliver Wyman Insights, 2023. https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2023/jan/not-enough-aviation-mechanics.html
• Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Data & Statistics,  US Civil Airmen Statistics, https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics (visited 7 July June 2023)

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