It’s no secret that the aviation industry is facing a severe skills shortage in years to come and there is an acute need of attracting a new generation aviation professionals! It’s no secret that the aviation industry is facing a severe skills shortage in years to come and there is an acute need of attracting new generation aviation professionals!

Forecasts 550.000 new pilots Airbus forecasts, in 20 year’s time, a training need for more than 550.000 new pilots 500.000 technicians Airbus GMF 2016-2035 Mapping Demand 2016 2035 IATA expects doubling of passengers no 3.8 7.2 billion In order to underline again the importance of the shortage issue I would like to point out that for the first time, Airbus forecasts in their “Global Market Forecast”, the need of more than 550.000 new pilots and 500.000 technicians to be trained in order to fly the world’s fleet of passenger aircraft in 20 year’s time.  

that requires many parts We have to be careful NOT TO BE TRAPPED Aviation is a system that requires many parts to work together! We have to be careful NOT TO BE TRAPPED 9.000.000 people: pilots, technicians, ATC, cabin crew, CAA inspectors, airport managers, security officers, etc But…… we must be careful not to be trapped! We should not stop at the most obvious professions like pilots, technicians and air traffic controllers. Aviation should be seen as a system that requires many parts that works together.  According to IATA, the aviation industry employs worldwide nearly 9 million people. That includes a broad range of occupations, such as: pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controller but also airline managers, CAA Inspectors, freight and cargo supervisors, security officers, airport managers and, for sure, the list is bigger

Solution This means - A Strategy! In order to find a SOLUTION we first need to know what we want based on what we need. While there have been many discussions about what has caused the shortages, it is the solution to the problem that the entire industry must focus on now!  In order to find a solution we first need to know what we want, based on what we need.  Do we need professionals in all these fields? How many people? when do we need them? who is “WE”? a country? a region? global aviation sector? After answering to this question we will be able to build a strategy for the NEXT GENERATION AVIATION PROFESSIONALS based on the realities of aviation field! This means - A Strategy!

NOT NECESARLY – we know that one size does not always fits all Examples of best practices Question Does a program or strategy that functions in one State works in other States or regions? NOT NECESARLY – we know that one size does not always fits all International aspect of the aviation European example Even if in recent years there have been many examples of best practices regarding how we can attract, train and retain the new generation of professionals (NGAP Outreach Working Group Activities, Singapore Aviation Academy activities, Young African Aviation Professionals Association activities etc.), one important question remains: does a program or strategy that functioned in one State works in other States or regions? We know that one size does not always fits all!  Considering the international aspect of the aviation, the fact that there are international, regional and international regulators and rules that have to be respected, each state needs a strategy fitted on its own needs but also based on regional and international cooperation.  

Guidance Material – template for action plan A new working group has been added to the NGAP Program The Strategies and Planning Working Group Assembly Resolution A39-29 on NGAP urges States, CAAs and industry to work together to ensure the gaps are filled Main objective: assist the States to develop and implement effective strategies to attract, educate, and retain the next generation of civil aviation professionals to develop Guidance Material – template for action plan that each State can adapt for its own needs Taking in consideration all this aspects and the fact that the ICAO Assembly Resolution A39-29 on NGAP urges States, CAAs and industry to work together to ensure the gaps are filled, in December 2016 a new working group was added to the ICAO NGAP Program: The NGAP Strategies and Planning Working Group.  The establishment of this WG has come as a necessity to link the activity of the existing NGAP working Groups with the mandate given by the ICAO’s Member States.  The main objective of the new working group is to develop Guidance that will assist the States to develop and implement effective strategies to attract, educate, and retain the next generation of civil aviation professionals and the final deliverable will be a guidance material – a template of an Action Plan that each State can adapt for its own needs.

To develop a New Generation of Aviation Professionals! To successfully achieve its objective and to deliver a useful and realistic tool to States, this project needs not only the support of the NGAP team, but also the involvement and support of experts from industry, academia and training organizations.  Just as an airplane needs several components working together to be able to fly, we have to work together in order to build a New Generation of Aviation Professionals!  We all need it and I am sure that none of us can do it alone so I invite you all to bring your contribution to this new NGAP Project - The Strategy and Planning Working Group To develop a New Generation of Aviation Professionals!

THANK YOU!