The world's commercial aircraft fleet is set to balloon by a third by 2034, according to Oliver Wyman. Photo: Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File
But the sector suffers from a shortfall of qualified manpower -- and an inadequate pipeline of talent. In the United States, around 4,000 maintenance, repair and overhaul companies employ some 185,000 aviation maintenance technicians and engineers. This forms around 44 percent of the global total, according to the Aeronautical Repair Station Association."Working as a mechanic opens so many opportunities," said Fariha Rahman, 17, speaking to AFP at a JetBlue maintenance hangar during aAnother student, 15-year-old Gaby Moreno, added:"It's such a great industry.
To boost the attractiveness of aviation maintenance, Congress passed legislation in 2018 enabling the FAA to provide ad hoc grants. In a 2023-2042 outlook, aviation giant Boeing forecasts"strong" long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel. The two major aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, are fully booked until almost the end of the decade, and are accumulating delays.