Industry insights on skills needs
The Aviation IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast identifies the top priority skills for the Aviation workforce in the next three to five years as:
- Health and safety
- Operational
- Security.
Additionally, the top five generic skills in order of importance are listed as:
- Design mindset / Thinking critically / System thinking / Solving problems
- Learning agility / Information literacy / Intellectual autonomy and self-management (adaptability)
- Technology
- Managerial / Leadership
- Communication / Virtual collaboration / Social intelligence.
The top priority industry and occupation skills include Maintenance/Servicing and Piloting.
The following areas were identified as experiencing skills shortages: educators, trainers and assessors, engineers and technicians, managers, pilots and safety personnel. The reasons identified for these skills shortages include: cost/time to achieve the required qualification, competition from other organisations, ageing workforce / current staff retiring, wages / salaries considered too low, geographic location of the vacancy.
The industry challenges and opportunities reported in the Aviation IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast include new technologies for airports, airlines and air traffic control systems, automation for ground operations, and the harmonisation of regulations. Innovations for airports include automated check-in and bag-drops, biometric technologies and facial recognition, advanced x-ray equipment and Checkpoint Computed Tomography (CT) which can produce a 3D image of the content of bags. Autonomous systems and vehicles can improve safety and automated check-in and baggage drop off can reduce the routine work for ground operators. Airlines have adopted tools such as dynamic airborne rerouting planning, crew scheduling optimisation, predictive maintenance, and fuel efficiency software. The use of drones is on the rise, and RPAS operators need to be trained in the safe operation of drones and compliance with regulations. OneSky, a new Air Traffic Management System, will replace the current system by 2023 and will harmonise civil and military air operation.
The industry workforce skills developments or trends identified in the Aviation IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast, the Aviation IRC’s 2021 Industry Outlook (abridged annual update) highlights several opportunities and challenges for the Aviation industry sector under the categories of drone technology, air traffic control, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance:
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also termed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and colloquially known as drones, will be more prevalent in the future. There are 1.2 million drones operating in Australia, and a potential $60 billion commercial drone market by 2024. Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles may also create more opportunities. A Diploma of Aviation (Chief Remote Pilot) to provide a regulatory and procedural leadership role supporting future changes in the drone industry is proposed by the IRC, and a new single unit Skill Set to address the skills and knowledge for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations in the excluded category sub 2 kg.
- Airservices Australia is developing the Integrated Airspace Program that will seek to deliver more efficient and suited services to low level airspace users in the near future. Part of this program is to work with CASA to enable automated RPAS approvals for operations that fall within certain parameters. With the OneSky program expected to be rolled out by 2023, the 1,700 existing and the new air traffic controllers will all need to be trained in the operation of this new technology. To address the knowledge and procedural skills gaps, the IRC has commenced a review of the Diploma of Aviation (Air Traffic Control) and nine associated Units of Competency.
- Workforce skills need to be progressively developed to minimise the risk of cyber-attacks and be capable of reinstating digital systems as quickly as possible if a cybersecurity incident occurs, including compliance with regulatory requirements.
- New regulations will be implemented in December 2021 covering flight rules, certification, and management for a variety of aircraft and operations. A review of the Units of Competency in the Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane) and affected skill sets that contain aspects of ‘spinning’, particularly ‘incipient spin’ is in progress.
The Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications released the National Emerging Aviation Technologies Policy Statement in May 2021. The Department is working closely with industry to progress emerging aviation technologies including drones, advanced air mobility (AAM) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The economic analysis commissioned by the Department shows the potential for the creation and support of 5,500 full time equivalent jobs, an increase in the GDP of $14.5 billion over 20 years, and cost savings of $9.3 billion over the next 20 years. The Government is funding the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program to support strategic partnerships with industry to address community needs that can be addressed with the use of the new technology, particularly in regional Australia.
Pilot Training for Advanced Air Mobility states the emerging air transportation sector, advanced air mobility (AAM), will create a huge demand for uniquely trained professional pilots to safely fly passengers and cargo at scale across global markets. The report states more than $8 billion has been invested in the development of electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and the focus has primarily been on advances in electric propulsion, sources of power, and infrastructure, neglecting the issue of training. While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the global demand for pilots, the industry is showing signs of recovery. Initially, it is anticipated pilots for AAM will be experienced commercial pilots drawn from both the fixed and rotary-wing aviation sectors, exacerbating expected skills shortages. The pilots will need additional skills and training to operate eVTOL aircraft, and pathways from the AAM sector to the traditional civil aviation sector could also be established. The regulatory requirements for eVTOL pilot training and licencing are yet to be established, and early entrants will have to rely on existing regulations. In Australia, the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), which is the primary advisory body through which the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASA) directs its engagement with industry, has established the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Strategic Regulatory Roadmap Technical Working Group (TWG). The TWG will provide industry insight and understanding of current needs and regulatory approaches, provide relevant technical expertise, and co-design a draft roadmap with CASA.
Occupations not in national shortage, with moderate future demand relating to the Aviation Industry included in the Skills Priority List are Aeroplane Pilot, Air Traffic Controller, Flying Instructor, Helicopter Pilot, and Flight Attendant. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics), Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical), and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) are listed as occupations in national shortage, with strong future demand. The Air and Space Transport: Flight Operations Industry Profile states Aeroplane Pilots are in short supply, and Flight Instructors are returning to industry as pilots for airlines. The demand for helicopter pilots has remained steady, however there is a demand for pilots with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) authorisation. Some organisations are experiencing additional cost burdens meeting regulatory requirements as, for example, the NGV authorisation can cost up to $55,000 per person, and there is an increasing expectation employers should fund these requirements. For Ground Operations, the industry snapshot states there is concern that stand downs of skilled workers due to reduced services, such as baggage handlers, cargo and ramp services employees, may be permanently lost to the industry.
