Aircraft_Maintenance_Technology_January-February_2020 - 23

he fact that the aviation industry
is experiencing a critical shortage
of certified maintenance technicians has been well documented by
leading aircraft manufacturers and
media such as Aircraft Maintenance
Technology Magazine, Forbes,The
Wall Street Journal and numerous others
over recent years. The 2019 Boeing Pilot &
Technician Outlook estimates that 769,000
new maintenance technicians will be needed
between 2019 and 2038, along with 804,000
new civil aviation pilots and 769,000 new cabin
crew to maintain a worldwide fleet of aircraft.
Stresses on the entire aviation ecosystem have
intensified due to other serious issues such as labor
disputes and the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max.
Regardless of the reasons, the demand for FAAcertified Airframe and Powerplant technicians is
great. Aircraft manufacturers, commercial airlines
of all sizes, fixed base operators and third-party maintenance and repair service providers are all competing
for the same pool of A&P technicians. The race is on for
employers to recruit and hire newly certified A&Ps and
to provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities their team members.

Fast-Track to Workplace Readiness
According to the BLS, employment of aircraft and
avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is
projected to grow at a rate of three percent from
2018 to 2028, which is slower than the average for
all occupations in the U.S. However, employment
opportunities are expected to remain good because
of the rate at which veteran techs are retiring out of
the profession. The BLS also reports that 90 percent of
certified A&Ps are earning more than $47.08 per hour
or $97,820, with 50 percent of them earning $30.25 an
hour or $62,920 annually.
This higher earning potential for aircraft maintenance technicians is especially appealing to mechanically-inclined high school graduates, "career changers"
of all ages and military veterans who find that attending a two-year career college or vocational technical
school is the most practical and most cost-effective
choice for them. Students typically can choose to
pursue a 20-month A&P technician's certificate or
a 24-month program to complete an Associate of
Applied Science degree in Aviation Maintenance
Technology.
Not surprisingly, faculty and staff of many US-based
career schools that offer aviation maintenance programs are seeing spikes in student enrollment and

positive outcomes for their graduates, which prompts
the "good problem" of needing to expand their educational and training facilities and/or offer both day
and night classes at the same institution.
Although an FAA-approved mechanic's certificate
is not required to work on aircraft, most airlines do
require the certification as part of the hiring process. Also, without an FAA mechanic's certificate, a
technician cannot release an aircraft to service. The
advantage of obtaining an FAA A&P certification is
that it remains valid until surrendered, suspended
or revoked. This is a far better option than having a
repairman certificate that ends when a person leaves
his or her employer. Mechanics with an FAA Airframe
and Powerplant certificate will typically have more
job opportunities than their non-certified counterparts. Also, the potential of higher pay is greater for
those with an FAA aviation mechanic's certificate.
Due to the "real world" experience requirement, an
FAA approved aviation mechanics license is usually acquired through the military, work apprenticeships or through an FAA approved Part 147 Aviation
Maintenance Technician School. In fact, military veterans and aviation industry employers turn to career
schools for supplemental aviation maintenance training and skills development.

Two MIAT students
practicing riveting
sheet metal.
MIAT

www.AviationPros.com

http://www.AviationPros.com

Aircraft_Maintenance_Technology_January-February_2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aircraft_Maintenance_Technology_January-February_2020