The aviation industry is continuously evolving due to advancements in the environment, technology, and workforce demands. These affect how airports and airlines operate every day. Understanding these trends is essential for how future aviation specialists are trained and instructed. The following are five current trends that are currently happening :
- Increased use of Automation and AI
- Airlines and airports are always looking for ways to proactively determine what will happen so they can make operations much smoother and more efficient. Examples include flight planning, air traffic management and baggage handling.
- Sustainability and greener Aviation
- Many airports are moving towards a net-zero emissions goal. One way to do that is to push for sustainable aviation fuel, which helps meet environmental and public expectations.
- Airport modernization
- Airports are improving technology with advanced biometric screening, touchless technology and digital systems to keep passengers moving through security.
- Advanced training technologies
- Flight simulators are in high demand because they enable scenario-based training that improves safety and reduces training costs.
- Skilled labour shortages and pilots
- Across the world, many airlines are facing a shortage of pilots and aviation specialists, leading to increased training and recruiting efforts.
The following trends will affect how I instruct in the coming years. I will need to focus more on technology-based learning, awareness of automation, and real-life scenario-based training. I will also need to understand the regulations and goals for environmental and safety culture. To keep up with these changes, I will need to stay up to date on current events in the aviation industry and ensure students are job-ready in a rapidly evolving industry. This will also allow me to design learning experiences that support students’ job readiness in the industry.
Article
https://pelicanflightschool.com/blog/articles/pilot-shortage-airlines
Above, I have attached a link to an article titled “Why Is There a Pilot Shortage?” The article lists several essential factors, including retirement, training bottlenecks, and the long-term effects of COVID-19. The aviation industry took a big hit from the pandemic and is still recovering to this day. Many pilots retired early, were on temporary layoff, or just left the industry due to reduced operations. As air travel demand has recovered, airlines have struggled to rebuild their workforce and replace the experience and knowledge that was lost. The loss of expertise is also the loss of knowledge, creating a gap that makes mentorship and instruction even more important for new people entering the industry.
Many airlines increased hiring and accelerated training pathways, which is a huge safety concern for many. Although it does help address staffing shortages, it raises significant safety and training concerns. Being part of the aviation industry, I have friends who want to become pilots, and I have heard comments about flight hours being reduced to become one. This highlights the need for stronger standards. The article also touches on how the high cost and long duration of pilot training create barriers for potential pilots. This contributes to the ongoing shortage.
COVID-19 also affected the way instructors taught. There was a greater use of simulators and flexible training schedules. Instructors had to adapt their teaching methods to support students who may be entering the aviation industry.
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