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CAREER DEVELOPMENT Work Force Skill Development Y By John Gamble Thanks to industry partnerships, Wichita Area Technical College is able to offer its students state-of- the-art training in composites. ou’ve read the articles and heard the chatter; the aviation industry will soon find it very challeng- ing to hire enough qualified technicians. Aviation manufac- turers and MRO facilities are both concerned about future hiring shortages. Some estimate as many as 650,000 new aviation technicians will be needed by 2030. A recent Boeing press release states that “airlines will need an average of 23,000 new commercial jet pilots and 32,500 new techni- cians per year to maintain and fly an expand- ed world fleet expected to grow to nearly 40,000 airplanes over the next 20 years, as well as replace the coming wave of retirements.” Without enough trained talent, U.S. compa- nies will have to turn away work. Technician shortage This problem, which is not unique to avia- tion or aerospace, has captured the attention of leaders at the highest levels of industry and government. In June, President Obama spoke on this very topic at Northern Virginia Technical College. His message was clear: the health of the U.S. economy requires the train- case today; yet those fundamental skills are all still needed, skills like reading measuring instruments, drilling accurate holes, and bolt- ing with proper torque. Additionally, with new materials and processes, those skill sets need to be revisited, revised, and enhanced. Another hurdle is the perception today’s potential students and their parents have of technical education: that a technical career is not a healthy choice. But today’s technicians are not knuckle-busting, wrench benders with few career options. In fact, today, one of the problems facing the aviation industry is that graduates of today’s aviation programs are swept up by other industries. The United States is the home of innovation and in no industry is that more true than aviation. The technol- ogy in today’s aircraft requires tech- nicians with a high level of talent and a broad base of skills not imag- ined before. Aircraft like Boeing’s 16 August 2011 Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AMTonline.com • www.AMTSociety.org Third-party credentials help bridge predicted hiring gap ing of new workers for new technical jobs. In the past, prior to entering technical col- lege, students typically had a fair amount of mechanical experience, thanks either to high school tech classes or work done around the farm, home, or garage. This is not often the Third-party certifications benefit the technician by providing proof of trans- ferable skills, improving their chances for employ- ment, and paving the way for higher wages.