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On National Engineers Day, the chairman of global aviation major Sky One underlines the importance of well-trained maintenance and service engineers
Recent industry reports suggest that nearly 72,900 jobs for technicians and AMEs will be created in India across the airline and MRO sectors by 2035. Industry experts also support these projections, predicting a significant surge in demand for skilled engineers in view of the expansion plans of passenger airlines in India and the massive orders they have placed for new aircrafts. This month, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson stated that the company’s proposed Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Bengaluru alone is likely to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for aviation engineers in India. Last year, aerospace giant Boeing also mentioned that the South Asia market will require 37,000 pilots and 38,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 years, driven primarily by the growing demand in India.
“Though airlines in India are strengthening the recruitment of pilots and cabin crew in line with the huge number of aircraft orders and are initiating collaborations with domestic and foreign flying schools, not many steps have been taken to augment license category workforces, such as aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs). They are equally essential for the efficient operations of an airline, especially in light of India’s plan to develop an aviation MRO hub in the country,” says Jaideep Mirchandani, Chairman of Sky One.
As the aviation sector continues to evolve with technical advancements and the complexities of advanced aircraft ordered by leading carriers in India, more job opportunities will be created on the technical side, observes Mr. Mirchandani. “In addition to service engineers, avionics specialists, and structures specialists, emerging roles such as Artificial Intelligence experts and blockchain-certified professionals will broaden the range of skilled professionals in the industry,” he adds.
According to news reports, currently there are nearly 7,000 AMEs deployed at MRO facilities, excluding AMEs working as instructors in various training schools. There are around 45 AME schools in India authorised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), where each engineer is required to be licensed by the regulator.
“In India, obtaining an independent AME certification takes six years because the process includes not only completing a four-year engineering degree but also undergoing additional training under an experienced AME. This extra training is necessary due to the gap between the skills taught in educational institutions and the practical requirements of the aviation industry. This extended training period can likely result in a shortage of job-ready engineers,” says Mr. Mirchandani.
One solution could be to improve the quality of training in AME schools by modifying the curriculum with extra focus on skill training. “AME schools can explore the possibility of potential tie-ups with major aviation companies. Recently, Airbus, in a collaborative effort, launched an aviation school in Hyderabad. By joining hands with manufacturers, these schools can offer more comprehensive, aircraft-specific type courses,” adds Mr Mirchandani.
Moreover, partnering with international companies and MROs to upgrade the curriculum will also help in improving and updating instructional materials, syllabi, and access to globally acclaimed competency standards. “The synergy with these companies can also enhance the quality of instructors through cutting edge modules,” concludes Mr Mirchandani.
