After some years of steady growth, the worldwide aerospace industry is experiencing turbulence. Sky-high oil prices play a part but equally valid is a skills crunch across the board.
The need differs depending on location. In the mature North American market there is a growing awareness of the requirement to develop engineers as the older generation stops working. Marion Blakey, chief executive of US trade body Aerospace Industries Association says: “Almost 60% of the US aerospace workforce is aged 45 or over, and around 25% of those are eligible for retirement now.”
The problem is worldwide and heavy hitters are stepping in to tackle it. Dubai Aerospace University (DAU) the education and training arm of aviation major Dubai Aerospace Enterprises, is working on an academy in India which will target Indian students interested in the entire spectrum of aviation studies.
DAU president George Ebbs says: “Our research confirms that India will remain one of the fastest growing aviation and aerospace markets in the world over the next 20 years. But there is a huge shortage of qualified human resources.”
The need to develop technical talent is felt most keenly in Asia. The major airframers have set up authorised service centres and parts suppliers across the region, but there are concerns that this is not enough.
Lufthansa Technical Training (LTT) operates three training centres in Manila, Taiwan and Beijing and has its eye on China, India and Singapore. Both Airbus and Boeing have increased their networks and partner arrangements in Asia to cater for their growing presences. Boeing now has several Alteon centres around the region.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer had staffing problems at the turn of this century. Realising there were very few home-grown engineers available, it saw that it was a strategic imperative to grow its own workforce. Consequently, it more than doubled the number of engineers on its in-house training programme between 1999 and 2000.
Other companies reach out to the local community. Gulfstream Aerospace offers a high school course where students who finish are guaranteed a job interview with the firm.
Grob Aerospace has set itself the task of appointing 60 new engineers within the next three to six months. The company’s priority is to recruit engineers and technicians to be based and Grob’s main engineering and production facility in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany and at its new facility in St. Gallen, Altenhrein, Switzerland, where it will undergo completions of the SPn light jet.
Boeing, too, is encouraging new talent by sponsoring the Flight Engineering Student of the Year Award. The prestigious prize recognises the potential impact of a candidate’s work on current or future technology. This year’s winner will receive the award at Flight International’s 100th Anniversary celebrations on Tuesday night.
Source: Flight International
