The Department of Infrastructure and Transport has detailed its plans to combat a critical shortage of aviation maintenance engineers in Australia.
Speaking at the RotorTech conference in Brisbane last week, First Assistant Secretary International Aviation, Technology and Services Richard Wood said the department was very aware of the problem and was taking steps to address it.
"If I've heard anything from the last day or so here, skills shortages is essentially the number one priority ... of the aviation sector," Wood said. "There's a wide range of issues leading into that, but we're acutely aware of the shortage of aircraft maintenance engineers in particular, but also in the pilot sector and other streams.
"We're looking at the issue from a range of fronts such as aligning training regulatory requirements, looking at financial barriers to training, recognition of prior learning, migration settings and promotion of the industry, as well as broader settings around attracting people to regional Australia."
Wood also said that CASA workplan that was published in May was critical to solving the problem. The workplan recognises the need to simplify maintenance regulations for private and airwork GA aircraft, and to develop less onerous pathways to maintenance qualifications for GA.
"[the] general aviation workplan will also play a really important role in this space, looking to streamline regulatory requirements for aircraft maintenance engineers amongst other things [and] we're working closely with CASA to support those particular issues," Wood told the conference.
Among other measures, Wood outlined a plan raise awareness of aviation as a career path for women via a grass-roots program reaching out to female students at both the secondary and tertiary levels.
According to Wood, engagement with the GA industry would be key to the success of the government measures.
"Industry is going to continue to play a really critical role, because ultimately it is the future of your industry that is largely determined by its participants both current and future," he said.
"It was really inspiring to hear the announcement about the helicopter engineers future foundation. That's testament to those who have, and continue to, invest in the future of your industry."
In the May 2022 newsletter of the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA) Executive Director Ken Cannane said the shortage was not confined to Australia, and that a change in regulation has contributed to the problem.
"It is globally recognised the aviation maintenance profession is in dire straits with the world-wide fleet of aircraft now growing at a rapid rate," Cannane said. "Numbers of new maintenance personnel entering the field have diminished, and those of us actively engaged struggle to keep up with ever-evolving technology.
"Training standards promulgated by North America/EU do not exist in Australia ...
"CASA dumped a world standard AME licencing and training system with industry specific group ratings that matched the experience attainment capability of AMEs in rural Australia; and replaced it with a system that no longer provides training courses applicable to the licences now included in CASR Part 66," Cannane said.
"The trade training system has been virtually diminished. The VET training was based on the practical skills specified by ICAO with aviation knowledge associated with the practical skills as applied doing maintenance work. These standard were nationally applied because CASA predecessors promulgated ICAO Annex 1 recommended training course standards.
"A past CASA management removed these promulgated curriculum standards and our training standards have slipped well below world standards.
"Future technology is already in the country but training is not available because CASA has not promulgated basic training courses and their duration based on EASA course duration hours."