If you operate aircraft of any size or shape you know all too well how hard it is to find mechanics. Whether you are hiring for your own in-house shop or working with an outside vendor, the shortage of qualified aircraft mechanics continues to impact all sectors of the industry. It would seem that that trend is unlikely to change according to the Aviation Technician Education Council's latest report.
"The certificated mechanic workforce is growing, but not fast enough to meet demand. FAA data show the number of certificated mechanics has grown an average of 2.3 percent per year over the past 5 years. Current estimates show that commercial aviation alone will be 31,000 mechanics short of its needs by 2031. The projection does not consider other demand sources, such as business aviation or urban air mobility".