Maintenance and Modifications
A&P Pipeline Improving but Not Fast Enough
Aviation Technician Education Council says a nation-wide effort led by industry is needed to help fill the widening gap of techs and A&Ps.

The number of new aviation mechanics entering the industry is improving, but it’s not enough to fill the gap of retirements and future needs, the Aviation Technician Education Council said in a recently released report. Based on data collected by ATEC, the report said aviation maintenance students choosing to work in non-aviation jobs dropped by nearly half from the previous year, to 13 percent. Meanwhile, 70 percent of graduating A&P students are taking the FAA mechanic exam, a 10-point increase from 2016 and 2017.