CAE predicts demand for 102,000k bizav professionals by 2034
Business aviation will need an estimated 102,000 professionals worldwide by 2034, predicts CAE’s biennial Aviation Talent Forecast, published today at the Paris International Air Show. Civil aviation, as a whole, will require an estimated 1.5m aviation professionals over the same period.
The business aircraft sector will need 33,000 pilots and 69,000 aircraft maintenance technicians within the next 10 years. Civil aviation will need 267,000 pilots, 347,000 aviation maintenance technicians, and 678,000 cabin crew. The largest percentage will be needed to meet rapidly rising demand in the Asia Pacific region.
The thirst for new aviation professionals is being driven by record demand for air travel and significant retirements all categories, said Marie-Christine Cloutier, vice-president – Strategy, Performance, Air Traffic Services & Marketing at CAE. “With commercial and business aviation fleets expected to see double digit increases over the next 10 years, the industry must take action to attract, train, and retain personnel,” she said.
“Highly skilled aviation professionals are not just a necessity for the safety of the air transport system, they are the foundation for the successful expansion and resilience of the global aviation sector.”
To satisfy demand, the industry needs to be proactive and creative in training optimising, according to CAE. Over the next 10 years, about 50% of pilots worldwide will be new to the profession, predicts CAE. “As retirements and attrition increase, there is an opportunity for the industry to find innovative minds to join its ranks and develop new technology that will improve current workflows,” according to the training provider. “A new generation will begin their aviation careers, bringing new perspectives and finding ways to improve and optimize the way the industry operates.”
A smooth transition could be supported by combining new ideas and flexible approaches, it says. This would help to create learning experiences that are “engaging and accessible for a variety of learning styles”.
Two major challenges will be attracting talent and ensuring qualified candidates graduate and join the civil aviation workforce. Drop out and failure rates are alarmingly high across all professions, reveals the report. For example, 30% of US paid air traffic control students do not complete their training, according to the National Airspace System Safety Review Team.
“We need a comprehensive training environment that caters to the way new generations learn and thrive,” said Cloutier. “At CAE, part of our solution is investing significantly in innovation and technology. Some of our latest advancements include CAE’s immersive pilot training app using Apple Vision Pro, and the CAE Prodigy Image Generator, our ultra-realistic 3D visual system using gaming technology.” Read the full CAE report here.
Meanwhile, CAE’s previous report, published in 2023, predicted the need to recruit an additional 32,000 business aircraft pilots and 74,000 business aircraft maintenance technicians by 2032. Commercial aviation was expected to need to recruit 252,000 pilots, 328,000 maintenance technicians and 599,000 cabin crew, adding to a combined total of 1.18m staff.
CAE Aviation Talent Forecast needs by 2034
Business aviation
- Will need an estimated 102,000 professionals
- 33,000 pilots
- 69,000 aircraft maintenance technicians
Civil aviation
- Will need an estimated 1.5m professionals
- 267,000 pilots
- 347,000 aircraft maintenance technicians
- 678,000 cabin crew.
Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE presents the Aviation Talent Forecast results at the Paris Air Show.
