New training academies are popping up around the world as airlines and MROs seek to address the maintenance technician recruitment and retention challenge. Emma Kelly looks at some of the initiatives gaining momentum.
This article was published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of LARA. To read more articles like this from our magazines, apply for your complimentary subscription to LARA.
As airlines around the world expand their fleets and networks to meet passenger demand, the need for qualified maintenance technicians correspondingly climbs.
An ageing and retiring workforce, post-Covid realities and the changing career aspirations of the next generation mean that maintaining the pipeline isn’t easy.
Boeing predicts the global industry will require 716,000 new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years as the global commercial fleet continues to grow.
Boeing’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook predicts that Eurasia, China and North America will drive demand for more than half of new industry personnel, with South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa expected to be the fastest-growing regions – with the staffing demand expected to more than triple over 20 years.
Two-thirds of new personnel will address replacement due to attrition, while one third will support growth in the commercial fleet.
Behind the curve – The global shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians
In the United States, the aviation technician workforce pipeline continues to lag behind demand, according to the latest Pipeline Report from the Aviation Technical Education Council (ATEC) and the global management consultants Oliver Wyman, who track the situation on an annual basis.
The report says barriers in the pipeline are slowly being removed, but the projected growth rate of certified mechanics remains insufficient to meet demand.
Among the positives, new mechanic certificates jumped 32 per cent in 2023, enrolment at aviation maintenance technician schools was up six per cent, and the military pathway for new mechanic certifications continued its annual double-digit growth.
But this is still insufficient to meet commercial aviation’s projected needs.
The current shortage in the US is estimated at nine per cent and will reach nearly 20 per cent – approximately 25,000 certificated mechanics – by 2028, according to the report.
Crystal Maguire, Executive Director at ATEC, says: “We are seeing some positive changes in the aviation technician workforce pipeline, but the pace of retirements combined with aviation’s projected growth means demand continues to outpace supply.” Earlier this year, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) awarded USD 9 million to 20 schools as part of its Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development programme.
Approximately 20,000 fewer people are working in the aircraft maintenance sector than before the pandemic, according to the FAA.
The situation has led to aircraft OEMs, MROs and airlines launching new training initiatives worldwide, particularly in the fastest-growing markets.
Boeing, for example, recently partnered with maintenance training organisation AI Engineering Services Limited in India to enhance training in the country, which will require 34,000 maintenance technicians through to 2042.
Airbus had earlier partnered with Indian aviation infrastructure group GMR to provide the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licensing programme at the GMR School of Aviation in Hyderabad.
The four-year course includes two years of classroom training and two years of training at GMR Aero Technic, followed by aircraft type training.
In France, Airbus is constructing a new training and flight operations campus in Toulouse-Blagnac, which will include mechanic training, starting in 2026.
Embraer launched its Guiding and Inspiring Future Technicians programme earlier this year to train new aviation mechanics in Sorocaba, Brazil, with 22 students selected to participate in the first three-year training programme.
Hands-on approach – Airline training programmes addressing the gap


Latvian carrier airBaltic has welcomed 57 students to its new Technical Academy. Image: airBaltic
Airlines have also taken the situation into their own hands, including regional and low-cost carriers.
In August, Latvian carrier airBaltic inaugurated its new Technical Academy, with the first 57 students in three specialised programmes starting their training towards becoming professional aircraft technicians.
The Technical Academy has facilities in Riga and Liepaja and provides hands-on training focused on the Airbus A220-300, of which the airline operates 48 – with more to come.
The airline aims to train nearly 400 new aviation maintenance professionals by 2030, for which three programmes are available.
The RTU airBaltic Programme is a paid full-time on-site programme offered with Riga Technical University. Participants will achieve a professional bachelor’s degree in Aviation Transport and qualify as European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part-66 aviation maintenance technicians. Trainees receive a full salary, with study and training expenses covered by the airline.
The LVT airBaltic Programme, in partnership with Liepaja State Technical School, allows students to achieve a secondary vocational education degree and an EASA Part-66 certificate. The programme offers salary benefits and industry perks after the first year, with tuition funded by the state budget and airBaltic.
The airBaltic Mechanics Programme will provide participants with paid training and employment, working towards Part-66 certification as certified B1 and B2 technicians. This programme is tailored for individuals with strong technical skills, and includes a full salary funded by airBaltic.
Olga Civzele, Technical Academy Training Manager, says the airline is aiming to enrol 70 students annually to support its growing fleet.
“Through these programmes, the airline offers free education with the opportunity to combine work and studies, as well as guaranteed employment in a highly qualified profession.”
Students enrolled are guaranteed employment during their studies and on completion.
“Depending on their chosen stream, they commence work at airBaltic either from the outset or after their first year, integrating work with academic and/or practical training. This methodology facilitates a deeper comprehension of the training material and allows for the immediate application of newly acquired knowledge in a professional setting,”
Civzele adds that following graduation the students are required to work at airBaltic for a minimum of three years.
“Through these programmes, the airline offers free education with the opportunity to combine work and studies, as well as guaranteed employment in a highly qualified profession.”
Olga Civzele, Technical Academy Training Manager, airBaltic
‘Zeroes to Heroes’ – Supporting apprentices across the Baltic
In Estonia, MRO specialist Magnetic Group recently established the Magnetic Academy to meet its technician training needs.
Magnetic already offers a comprehensive range of aviation technical training courses at its EASA Part-147 certified Magnetic Training organisation.
The new Magnetic Academy is offering two courses – Zero2Hero for apprentices and one for mechanics to become Part-66 licensed engineers.
The first intake of 15 Zero2Hero apprentices started in August, says Ene Krinpus, Head of HR at Magnetic Group.
The academy has worked with Riga-based Transport and Telecommunication Institute on the courses and is working closely with aviation-specific and trade schools across the Baltics to offer internship opportunities. The course will run every six months with 15 students.
“This amount will help us to offer a high-quality curriculum and more individual mentoring and support for the apprentices in the classroom and on the hangar floor,” says Krinpus.
The Part-66 course will also comprise 15 participants who will complete all B1 and B2 modules over the next one and a half years, leading to EASA licences.
Zero2Hero apprentices complete a 320-hour theoretical course, covering 10 modules, which is designed to lay the groundwork for the Part-66 programme.
“Courses vary from technical English and aviation law to physics, mathematics, and the basics of aircraft construction components,” says Krinpus. “Courses have been selected and put together to support apprentices’ future careers in aviation and to one day complete EASA Part-66 module training to become licensed engineers.”
Magnetic believes the combination of classroom theoretical studies with practical experience is a key differentiator.
“Whatever students learn in the classroom, they can put into practice in the hangar a week or two later,” says Krinpus, with students also being paid during their studies.
Enter the academy – Vallair Group’s evolving aviation education for maintenance technicians
French MRO Vallair Group has seen a strong response to its Aircraft Academy since its investment in the French training organisation in 2022.
It provides online and classroom-based training for Airbus and Boeing aircraft engineers and mechanics, and features a new educational facility with on-site practical training in Châteauroux.
“Demand is accelerating faster than we anticipated,” says Armel Jezequel, CEO of the Aircraft Academy.
“Globally there is a huge demand for aircraft mechanics, and this is a long-term issue which will take many years to resolve.”
The academy is aiming to train 300 aircraft technicians over five years and is currently about a third of the way there.
With a global demand, Jezequel says the academy is adapting its offering.
“We are finding that we need to evolve our business model to better serve the needs of our customers. Because we have an internationally oriented business and attract students from Asia, Africa and Europe, we are finding that the cost of travel/accommodation in France can be expensive for them, so we are duplicating our services to provide 75 per cent of the training in their own countries with the final, vital 25 per cent in Châteauroux or Montpellier. This flexibility enables us to tailor training.”


Vallair Group’s Aircraft Academy has met with a positive response in the post-pandemic era. Image: Vallair Group
International initiatives – Expanding training opportunities for international students
Vallair’s international initiatives include the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, under which it will provide aeronautical training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft recycling and workforce development.
The agreement has identified the global requirement for qualified airworthiness, maintenance and teardown personnel, with Cameroon set to benefit from Vallair’s expertise. “Together we will impart knowledge and embark upon a far-reaching and innovative programme that will also see Vallair’s expertise being replicated in Cameroon,” says Grégoire Lebigot, the President of Vallair Group.
The agreement includes provisions for bilateral student exchanges and collaborative training programmes between Vallair’s Aircraft Academy and Cameroon CAA’s training facilities in order to foster cross-cultural learning and development of a globally competent workforce.
“Right now, students have been finishing their interviews and tests,” says Jezequel. “This is under Cameroon’s CAA control.
After selection, students then attend training school in Cameroon for several months.
We anticipate implementation of Aircraft Academy-customised modules in early summer 2025.”
Additional international training partnerships are likely to follow.
“We have a number of confidential agreements in place. There is a global appetite for airlines and aviation authorities to build their cohorts of trained aircraft mechanics.”
US-based MRO provider StandardAero established a Mechanic Training Academy at its San Antonio, Texas, facility last year, with the first class commencing in June 2023.
The curriculum includes more than 480 hours of fundamental training for aviation technicians, as well as advanced company-specific systems courses.
Fred Thomason, the company’s Senior Manager, Technical Training, says 141 technicians have graduated to date.
He tells LARA: “Currently we have two classes ongoing with a total of 32 students, with a planned class schedule/load as in the prior year.
“The aviation maintenance industry nationwide is experiencing a shortfall of skilled mechanics.
“To tackle this, we’ve launched a 12-week on-the-job training programme designed to equip individuals with the specialised skills needed to maintain and repair aircraft engines directly at StandardAero.
“This programme is about creating a sustainable workforce pipeline to support our operations.”
Building connections – Inspiring next generation of aviation maintenance technicians
Aviation has to work hard to attract the next generation of technicians, which necessitates building connections from a young age.
“Each year we visit schools nationwide to promote careers in aviation,” says airBaltic’s Civzele.
“We are currently developing a specialised programme for secondary school students to foster their interest in aviation and to provide them with insights into behind-the-scenes processes, such as aircraft maintenance.
“We actively engage on social media platforms to promote the aviation industry and provide insights into various positions, including mechanics and technicians.
“We participate in numerous career events and air shows to promote careers in aviation, with a particular emphasis on technical roles.”
Magnetic’s Krinpus says: “It’s no secret that the labour market across the world is very intense, and traditional trades that require manual labour are struggling to find people.”
Magnetic Group promotes aviation maintenance roles through external employer branding and working with vocational schools across the Baltics, recently focusing on secondary schools.
“We are present where we can – to showcase what an amazing career aviation could offer them,” Krinpus adds.


MRO specialist Magnetic Group has established an academy to meet its technician training needs. Image: Magnetic Group
Careers outreach – Supporting high schools and colleges through aviation maintenance partnerships
StandardAero believes aviation maintenance is an attractive career path.
Dan Gonzales, VP Business Development, USAF Programs, says: “Aerospace continues to represent an exciting, high technology workplace, with the MRO sector providing a good degree of employee stability, based in large part on the diverse range spectrum of sub-segments within the industry.”
StandardAero uses all the tools available to market the industry, including trade shows, through its website, via social media, college visits and relationships with industry organisations.
The company maintains relationships with schools and colleges across its network.
In San Antonio, for example, it supports the Alamo Academies High School training programme, which trains high school juniors/seniors across different tracts, including aerospace and manufacturing, taking paid interns each summer.
StandardAero also supports the Dee Howard Foundation, which establishes aerospace-related programmes in high schools and middle schools, as well as college internships via partnerships with local universities.
At the other end of the experience scale, Muirhead Avionics/AMETEK MRO has reported success with its focused policy to employ ex-military personnel.
Matthew Brookes, Operations Manager, tells LARA that military training is the perfect foundation for a career in civil aviation avionics MRO.
“Aircraft today use a combination of old and new technologies that are continuously evolving,” he says.
“Even military aircraft with upgraded weapons systems and radar may well use legacy primary flight instruments.
“So one way to head off the impending labour shortage of aerospace skills in the UK is to bring in people who have been previously trained in the armed services in similar technical and responsible roles and have an ingrained attitude to learning.”
Muirhead Avionics currently employs seven ex-military team members. The aircraft maintenance technicians pipeline is one that needs to be maintained through any means.
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