It is no surprise that the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region is booming at an increasingly rapid pace. Attributed to the region’s economic growth, increased air travel is inevitable. In fact, Boeing predicts that the Asia Pacific will lead global demands for new aircraft, claiming up to 40% of all new passenger aircraft deliveries. As such, the need for pilots, technicians, and cabin crew over the next twenty years will be greatest in the region – amounting to over 261,000 pilots, 257,000 technicians, and 321,000 cabin crew.
Source: Dviation Group
In a separate prediction by the Vice President of Global Aviation Services at Cavok, Chris Doan, the Asia Pacific’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market will be valued at $34.8 billion by 2025. This projects a vast difference, compared to the European ($24.9 billion) and North American ($21.3 billion) markets.
Keeping Up With Demand
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An obvious underlying issue of labour shortage in the industry is the struggle to keep up with the exceeding demand for air travel. A closer look at this reveals that the industry’s capacity to supply labour is driven by a multitude of direct and indirect factors, with age being one of them. The overall age of the current generation of aviation professionals is closing in towards retirement. This is a major factor, as it results in a collective, rather than isolated, loss of manpower in the aviation workforce.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), aviation professions may not be attractive enough to potential candidates. Additionally, there is stiff competition for skilled labour in other industry sectors. A lack of harmonization of competencies in some aviation disciplines also contributes to the supply of aviation labour.
The Role of Training
Source: Dviation Group
One point worth noting is, despite having sufficient candidates to fill up the required positions in the aviation industry, if training doesn’t keep up, the industry will not be able to move forward.
Accessibility to affordable training and training capacity play a huge role in determining the supply of skilled aviation professionals. Currently, training organisations throughout the Asia Pacific region are on the rise. Yet, in many developing and less developed countries – where resources, skills and, potential abound – training remains below par.
ICAO suggests the possibility that learning methodologies are not responsive to the new, evolving style of learning. Furthermore, not all training organizations are certified to provide training for newer aircraft, and some are not equipped with sufficient facilities.
Source: Dviation Group
Hence, in response to this, the Dviation Group (www.dviation.com) seeks to improve aviation training in the ASEAN region by teaming up with various organizations across the region to leverage on resources and build talent. Currently, Dviation offers courses for aircraft type ratings, basic maintenance training, regulatory and organizational training, mandatory recurrent training, and workshop-related training. Accredited by the European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Dviation strives to offer top-class training so that, working closely with all industry players, the ASEAN region may provide a solution to ease the pressure on labour shortage.
Do you have what it takes to make a change in the aviation industry? Head over to www.dviation.com/training or www.dviation.com/recruitment to play your part in ending labour shortage in industry!