The 2023 edition of ATEC’s annual conference kicked off in full with a day of keynotes, conference sessions, and awards. Hosted at Chicago’s Aviation Institute of Maintenance, nearly 300 attendees and 30+ exhibitors heard from experts on the maintenance outlook from carriers, what recruiters are looking for and more on ATEC’s recent initiatives.
The highlight of the day came after lunch as Justin Madden of Airlines for America facilitated a session on supply and demand for aviation technical personnel. Experts from Boeing, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Oliver Wyman shared similar numbers, with the need for A&P technicians strong and growing.
Paul LaPorte from BLS shared 10-year projections:
Jennifer Radtke, Chief Mechanic at The Boeing Company, shared their Pilot & Technician Outlook, which shows industry needs for technicians and graduates of A&P programs. We have enough data, said Radtke. Now we need to take action. We’re partnering with education and customers across the globe. Radtke pointed to Boeing’s successful internship programs as one area of achievement and growth.
Livia Hayes, Director at Oliver Wyman, highlighted their study, which showed the similar conclusion of heightened industry need. Hayes elaborated on how to grow the supply side: get into schools earlier and get kids interested, show young people these are well-paid and meaningful jobs, and recognize that generational shifts means workplace culture needs to change.
Panelists pointed to action on sustainability as a positive to point young people to. They also asked attendees, most of them educators, to focus instruction on soft skills.
ATEC’s annual conference concludes Tuesday with a day of breakout sessions.