Next-Gen Workforce & Training Evolution
By MRO Today
Aerospace MRO is a sector where one cannot leave anything to chance. Every aspect is intrinsically connected with safety. Technological advances are as good as those who are skilled to operate them. Given the advancements and smarter MRO practices, the need for a new generation of skilled professionals has never been greater and more acute.
There are job opportunities which continuous demand for professionals skilled in advanced maintenance, data analysis, and digital technologies. The existing openings in MRO roles of course remain, which include: B1/B2 Licensed Aircraft Engineers, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians/ Mechanics, Continued Airworthiness Managers (CAMO), MRO Repair Engineers, Maintenance Planners and Controllers.
The aviation industry has arrived at its watershed moment, cutting over (not entirely) to a world of technological marvels, where speed, accuracy, and cost effectiveness are today’s wanted USPs. As retirements rise and fleet strength grows manifold, there is an urgent need for supply of sufficient manpower, trained for this digitised, fast-moving aviation landscape. The is disrupting hiring, and training new batches, workforce upskilling, and knowledge updates, hands – on training for existing and new technicians are ongoing continually, to catch up with the high-demand MRO sector.
Today’s Commercial MRO organizations are facing dual challenges, that of an aging workforce approaching retirement age, (55 to 60 years), that makes up 35% of the workforce. On the other hand, newer entrants, and existing young adults, (18 to 30 years), make up only single-digit percentage. As per industry reports, the estimated requirement in the commercial aviation MRO sector is approx. 690,000 new technicians over the next 20 years. Seems huge given the severity in the shortage of talent, adding to the complexity.
At the same time, MRO teams must keep aging aircraft at pristine operational readiness despite ongoing challenges. Parallelly, these companies and service – providers are also having to support a new generation of advanced engine platforms. All this has necessitated use of smarter, faster, and more adaptive solutions.
The Defence sector too is facing similar challenges of insufficient personnel who are technical skilled, as also in manufacturing and mechanical expertise. However, the rate at which newer talent is being absorbed into the workforce is failing to match the rising demand for MRO.
The legacy knowledge brought to the table by experienced technicians, who are skilled at identification, inspection and troubleshooting effectively, is also having to assist the less experienced junior technicians to complete tasks. Time needs to be invested to gather years of experience.
Peculiarly, in the aviation MRO industry, aircraft fleets may be getting older, but they are not aging out. Airlines operate with older aircraft, and bringing back retired aircraft would mean more visits to MRO shop floors – to remain airworthy.
Applying new technologies to Recruitment Strategies
While the current crop of Generation Next enter the workforce with passion and drive, and possessing great potential, they will undergo the recruitment process that new technologies are shaping MRO recruitment strategies. MRO recruitment is gradually being strengthened through AI, digital tools, and other innovative strategies to help address the workforce shortage in industry.
It is always about realistic, live sessions and demos with which technicians can earn first-hand experience, and train to work under pressure, possess good judgement of physical time taken to do a job, that ensures quick TAT and least amount of downtime. One must always be trained for the unplanned and have a back-up plan for mitigation of the event. At a crucial time, there may be a missing component or an unserviceable part, whose replacement must be found at once. Speed and accuracy are of essence. This can come with knowledge and experience. Troubleshooting under pressure requires situational awareness.
In a digitally connected world, the traditional paper-based work processes in the entire aviation ecosystem, are fast being replaced by new efficiencies brought in with digital technologies. This calls for apt skilling of technicians to be abled sufficiently in a digitised environment. There are specific skills that are most sought-after in this environment.
MRO technicians now must have dual skillsets on the one hand maintaining and repairing and carrying out inspections on mature aircraft fleet, as also having to inspect and maintain a growing fleet of next-generation aircraft and their new advanced materials and manufacturing techniques.
This calls for continuous and specialized training that is in-depth and wide-ranging. The chief areas of the training standards include Non-destructive testing (NDT)- requires experience and training to obtain necessary accreditations for non-destructive testing. However, the introduction of new non-destructive technologies (NDT) has kept up the pressure for specialised training. There are three new NDT techniques – Phased Array (ultrasonic), Computed and Digital Radiography – require their own specialised training to match industry certification standards. New age MRO services make proficiency in these new techniques essential. A sound understanding of compliance requirements for technicians is a must have. Therefore, upskilling workers is becoming crucial in the aviation supply chain, more than ever.
Composites construction and repair is another newer area of skilling for technicians who work with new materials like composites and advanced alloys. In demand are new skills like training in fibreglass and highly advanced composite repairs. There are new techniques developed as well for damage mapping and evaluation, for which technicians need training.
Manual’s on repair materials and techniques from OEMs Airbus and Boeing for example, need to be standardised. Their respective Structural Repair Manuals can be very different from each other, however, for the composite repair processes, it is a requirement to have the processes and manuals standardised.
Additive manufacturing or 3D Printing, is fast becoming hugely beneficial as opposed to traditional manufacturing in aviation – being cost-effective and flexible. While it is in its early stages of adoption, the industry understands its importance and that for technicians of the future, receiving training and education on the subject is becoming imperative.
According to MRO Network’s Thom-Arne Norheim, Technical Director of Norwegian recruiter OSM Aviation, explains that Digital Troubleshooting will require ‘personnel who are highly skilled on computers and digital platforms on a much grander scale than what we experience today.’
MRO technicians of the future need to master the art of troubleshooting to solve complex problems. Along with basic skills to troubleshoot need be enhanced with a deep understanding of computers and digital platforms.
All the above, are important skills to possess, train for the Next-Gen level of MRO services.
Newer ways of Attracting & Retaining Talent in Aviation MRO
The new age recruiters are targeting Diverse Talent Pools, other than justfocusing on the usual 20–30-year-old age bracket. Instead, companies are seeking job applications from underutilized segments, i.e., age groups from 30 to 45 years, with the offer of attractive career options, while enhancing their technical aptitudes.
Modular and Flexible Learning is offered to bring in convenience to learn and train with flexible programme options that support modular learning paths. This then will open diverse avenues for entering the industry.
In a bid to effectively improve retention and keep the youth or potential future talent ‘interested’ in the aviation MRO sector, Employer Branding and Talent Pipelining is sought. Such policies from recruiting companies and MROs actively engage with future employees by fostering long-term interest in the field.
For the aviation MRO sector, Specialized Recruitment Agencies, or sector specific talent hunt agencies specialized to recruit for the aviation industry, gain, and develop extensive industry-specific databases and expertise to match candidates best suited for the new -generation of advanced MRO roles, skillsets in AI-driven operations, for example.
Importance of Soft skills in today’s MRO environment
MRO recruiters are putting a lot more weightage on ‘soft skills’ at the workplace, than what might have been several years ago. Yes, it is true, just technical knowledge and expertise is not enough, and a solid grounding in soft skills for achieving effective workplace collaboration is becoming critical.
Companies like GE Lafayette – the assembly facility for the GE Leap engine family / MRO for the Leap 1A and 1B, are assessing soft skills when hiring technicians. The company lays emphasis on “the ability to communicate and work in a team environment”, according to plant leader, Eric Matteson. This is over and above an applicant’s demonstration of analytical skills. In markets with a global footprint, where nearly 75% of their engines exported across the geographies, ‘global awareness’, as also ‘cultural sensitivity’ is added to the list of essential hiring prerequisites. And rightly so. Therefore, it is vital that mechanics build up their inter-personal and intrapersonal skills, to connect better with customers worldwide. Makes for better business sense.
Key MRO recruitment companies
- Matchtech
- AAR Corp. (Recruitment arm)
- Petersen Aviation Staffing:
- Large Global Staffing Agencies with Aerospace Divisions
- Randstad
- Adecco
- ManpowerGroup
Conclusion
The new generation of Aviation MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) skills requires a blend advanced digital literacy (AI, data analytics, digital twins), and be able to navigate through deeply technical and complex systems (avionics, automation). Possessing strong soft skills (problem-solving, collaboration, communication), and adaptability, in a multi-dimensional world is imperative to gain a business edge.
One must note, however, that with technology augmenting, the human factor does not get replaced, as crucial hands-on troubleshooting and critical thinking within seconds can be achieved by man himself. Ideally, an MRO technician of the future, is expected to be multi-faceted to be able to maintain increasingly sophisticated aircraft.
