2023 Aviation Maintenance Recruitment Survey: We're Hiring

This survey of aviation technical personnel recruiters will support council activities and an upcoming session at the ATEC Annual Conference about personnel hiring and candidate shortfalls. Survey responses are confidential, results will be reported in the aggregate.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

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* 1. What aviation segment does your company primarily represent?

Major airline

Regional airline

Repair station

Manufacturer

Business aviation

General aviation

Emerging technologies (UAS, AAM, etc.)

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What types of involvement with educational institutions prove most successful for recruitment of aviation technical personnel? (Select all that apply.)

Internship programs

Apprenticeship programs

Student job opportunities

Tuition reimbursement programs

FAA mechanic testing reimbursement programs

Guaranteed interviews

Mentorship programs

Career fair involvement

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What have you found to be the best way to communicate with student candidates? (Select all that apply.)

Social media

Telephone

Text

In person

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What recruitment messages best resonate with student candidates?

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* 5. What are the most prominent aviation technical applicant shortfalls for entry-level candidates? (Select all that apply.)

No A&P certificate

Inadequate soft skills (people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, etc.)

Inadequate technical skills (as evidenced by in-person testing, etc.)

Immigration status issues or concerns (i.e., not a U.S. citizen, work visa term restrictions, etc.)

Pre-employement drug screen issues

Failed background check

Other (please specify)

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* 6. In what areas are student candidate technical skills most lacking?

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* 7. What are the biggest hiring challenges when it comes to compensation packages? (Select all that apply.)

Salary offered does not meet the candidate's expectations

Other industries offer higher salaries

Compensation package lacks expected benefits (i.e. healthcare costs, profit sharing, 401(k) contribution, etc.)

Job location has a high cost of living

Other (please specify)

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* 8. What credentials and/or certificates, if any, does your company value as an employment qualification?

FAA Mechanic Certificate

ASTM's NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET)

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How does your organization handle relocation?

Full assistance with relocation package

Partial assistance with relocation package

No assistance with relocation package

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What are the biggest challenges to retaining technical personnel? (Select all that apply.)

Compensation expectations

Cost of living

Lack of mobility

Lack of on-the-job training

Schedule (nights, weekends , holidays)

Work environment (line, base, outdoors/indoors, loud, elements)

Company culture

Immigration status issues or concerns

Inadequate soft skills

Inadequate technical skills

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What is the average tenure of your technical workforce?

1-4 years

5-9 years

10-14 years

15-19 years

20-24 years

25+ years

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* 12. What functional areas have the greatest demand? (Select all that apply.)

Line

Base

Powerplant

Sheet metal

Composite

A/C interiors

Trim

Calibration & tooling repair

Avionics

Other (please specify)

2023 Aviation Maintenance Recruitment Survey: We're Hiring

Question Title

* 1. What aviation segment does your company primarily represent?

Question Title

* 2. What types of involvement with educational institutions prove most successful for recruitment of aviation technical personnel? (Select all that apply.)

Question Title

* 3. What have you found to be the best way to communicate with student candidates? (Select all that apply.)

Question Title

* 4. What recruitment messages best resonate with student candidates?

Question Title

* 5. What are the most prominent aviation technical applicant shortfalls for entry-level candidates? (Select all that apply.)

Question Title

* 6. In what areas are student candidate technical skills most lacking?

Question Title

* 7. What are the biggest hiring challenges when it comes to compensation packages? (Select all that apply.)

Question Title

* 8. What credentials and/or certificates, if any, does your company value as an employment qualification?

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* 9. How does your organization handle relocation?

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* 10. What are the biggest challenges to retaining technical personnel? (Select all that apply.)

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* 11. What is the average tenure of your technical workforce?

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* 12. What functional areas have the greatest demand? (Select all that apply.)

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* 13. How many certificated mechanics does your company currently employ?

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* 14. How many certificated mechanics does your company need to hire over the next year?

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* 15. What is the starting hourly pay for an entry level certificated mechanic?

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* 16. How many non-certificated technicians does your company currently employ?

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* 17. How many non-certificated technicians does your company need to hire over the next year?

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* 18. What is the starting hourly pay for an entry level non-certificated technician?

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* 19. Comments/questions?