Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

The UK aviation industry’s skills shortage continues to be exacerbated by a failure to reach&nbsp;an agreement on the movement of labor across borders following the country’s departure from the European Union (EU). Marc Bailey, chief executive of the British Business &amp; General Aviation Association (BBGA), told the group’s conference today that high-level political obstacles continue to mean that UK companies have restricted access to pilots and maintenance professionals from other European countries.

 


“Without doubt, there has been an impact because positions have hardened [between the UK and the EU],” Bailey commented. “We expected to see bilateral agreements [on immigration and recognition of qualifications] coming to fruition in a couple of years, and it’s not at the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EASA, but at a political level there is not a will to have them, so progress on agreements has been weaker than a lot of us would have hoped.”

 


The UK government remains at loggerheads with the EU over UK demands to amend aspects of the terms under which the country left the community in January 2020. These mainly hinge on disagreements over how cross-border trade is regulated between the British mainland and Northern Ireland.

 


According to Bailey, the UK industry needs to generate its own flow of fresh talent, with the urgency of human resources challenges having increased through the Covid pandemic. He called for a more consistent approach to providing training that leads to attractive employment opportunities for younger people&nbsp;and also for older recruits who may want to retrain.

 


In February 2021, with the support of the UK Department for Transport, an industry partnership (including BBGA) created the Aviation Skills Retention Platform as a free service to help companies fill vacancies. A more recent initiative has been the launch of the TalentView platform, which&nbsp;connects young people to educational opportunities.

 


Bailey concluded that the UK industry must continue to press for a consistent approach to developing centers of excellence for training. These, he said, should have strong connections with organizations in other countries, such as the ROC college in the Netherlands, and ensure that the UK is seen as an attractive location for aviation careers.

 


From January 1, 2023, holders of EASA pilot and maintenance engineer licenses will no longer be permitted to work for UK companies or operate UK-registered aircraft. During the BBGA conference, officials from the UK Civil Aviation Authority advised that companies and their employees should start the process of securing UK licenses well ahead of this deadline. The change will be triggered when exemptions permitted under the EU Withdrawal Act expire and it will further reduce the flexibility for UK aviation businesses, according to the CAA's head of airline licensing David Kendrick.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Brexit Continues To Impact UK Aviation Skills Shortage

High-level political tension between the UK and the European Union has blocked agreements on the movement of skilled aviation labor across borders.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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