AINsight: Future of Aviation’s Mx Workforce

Attracting and retaining technicians is a mix of pay and quality of life

Maintenance technician panel — (l-r) Sheryl Barden, Andrew “A.J.” Cosgrove, Cobi Lane, Bill Hart, and Ed Chitren discuss how corporate flight departments can attract and retain maintenance technicians.

By Sheryl Barden • AIN Contributor

November 15, 2024

At NBAA-BACE last month, I was delighted to moderate an aviation maintenance panel that tackled a pressing issue: how to retain talented maintenance professionals in an increasingly competitive industry.

The numbers are sobering. Boeing projects that aviation will need 716,000 new maintenance technicians worldwide over the next 15 years. At the same time, 36% of today’s workforce is nearing or beyond a typical retirement age. So the challenge isn’t just about recruiting new talent; it’s about keeping experienced technicians engaged before they walk out the door.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Sheryl Barden

AIN Contributor

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Sheryl Barden, CAM, is CEO of Aviation Personnel International, the longest-running recruiting and HR consulting firm dedicated to business aviation. A recognized thought leader on workforce and leadership issues, she is an NBAA CAM Fellow, past member of NBAA’s board of directors and advisory council, and recipient of NBAA’s John P. “Jack” Doswell Award for lifetime achievement and service to business aviation.

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