Aircraft Engineers International are ringing the Aviation 'emergency safety bell'

BOESINGHELIEDE, Netherlands - Nov. 15, 2024 - PRLog -- Aircraft Engineers International are ringing the Aviation 'emergency safety bell'.

At the Aircraft Engineers International 52nd Annual Congress meeting which was hosted by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association in Sydney, the Aircraft Engineers International organization has been ringing the aviation 'emergency safety bell' due to the shortage of Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians.

The input of the participating associations/unions from all over the world was 'alarming' due to the fact that the current, and for the foreseeable future, shortage of Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians was highlighted by all congress participants - no exceptions. The shortage of Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians has been caused by several factors such as:

• The covid period - in this period many aviation company's fleets were either grounded or largely not utilized. Many Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians had lost their jobs, found other jobs, or retired early. Meaning that the important experience held by the Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians was drained out of these companies.
• The demand for technicians of all trades, globally, has resulted in increased remuneration, meaning that the technical graduated young man and women had many options other than the aviation maintenance industry.
• The lack of awareness of this shortage, or long training lead time, has meant that many aviation and maintenance organizations have been 'asleep at the wheel' or utilising a wrong recruitment / education policy.

All who participated in the Aircraft Engineers International congress were very clear of the fact that the labour to maintain a fleet of aircraft, and to fulfil the needed capacity, will be a significant challenge for the aviation industry. The increased workload on existing aviation technicians, due to the shortage of the aviation technicians, was also raised by all participating in the congress. i.e. to maintain a fleet with fewer Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians than required will have a negative effect on the Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians who remain and will lead to a poorer quality of work. Taking a holiday or a day off will be difficult due to the quantity of work required to be accomplished. The work pressure and stress are already leading to more sick leave, it is not a secret that these negative conditions could lead to safety issues.

Aircraft Engineers International is therefore advocating for the following measures to be implemented immediately:-

• Start aviation technical educational centres now.
• Start inspiring young children and teenagers while still at school to make them enthusiastic about aviation maintenance.
• Make sure that graduated technical students are made aware of the aviation technical job and give them perspective.
• Make the job of aviation technicians financial attractive for the benefit of new candidates, and to retain those already working as aviation technicians.
• Give the Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technician the respect deserved, similar  to the other jobs with the high responsibilities that aviation has.

All aircraft have to be maintained on a daily basis. Only Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technicians can carry out that work! It is their responsibility that ensures passengers and crew can complete their flights safely.

The shortage of Licensed Aircraft Engineers/aviation technician are already causing delays and cancellation, Aircraft Engineers International is urging the aviation industry to act now and to implement our recommendations.

By doing so:

• Passengers and freight can depart on time.
• The economic burden that delays / cancellations causes for companies, and countries, will be avoided.
• Flight safety will be enhanced.

NO aviation technician, NO flight!

Aircraft Engineers International
https://airengineers.org

Contact: contact@airengineers.org
Secretary general: Chris.Burleigh@airengineers.org
Chairman: Ola.Blomqvist@airengineers.org