Aviation is one of the hottest employment sectors right now, notwithstanding the current bad spell for airlines in terms of accidents. On the flip side, every accident leads to improvements in safety regulations and procedures to maintain flying as the safest form of transport.
The aviation industry hit the nadir during the Covid-19 pandemic when around 90 percent of the commercial passenger flights ceased to operate. Five years later, global passenger traffic is back to normal and in some cases, exceeds 2019 levels.
Airlines around the world have placed a record number of orders with Airbus, Boeing and Embraer (the three biggest commercial airframe makers) anticipating robust growth over the next decade. New airlines have sprung up, new routes are opening thanks to ultra long-haul airliners such as the Airbus A321XLR (8,700 Km non-stop range) and airports too are being expanded, including the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo.
This massive investment in aviation cannot happen in a vacuum, without the personnel. Over the next 20 years, the global aviation industry is projected to need around 649,000 new pilots to support the growing commercial fleet and increased air travel demand, according to Boeing. Beyond pilots, the industry, as per Boeing, also anticipates a need for 690,000 new maintenance technicians and 938,000 new cabin crew members worldwide over the next two decades. This does not include jobs in ground handling, airports and airport construction and allied services such as Air Traffic Control (ATC). Around 2.5 million jobs will be created in aviation and allied sectors over the next two decades.
This is a great opportunity for countries such as Sri Lanka which are not traditional aviation powerhouses. Unfortunately, aviation does not register as a career path in the minds of many parents and students in Sri Lanka, where everyone aspires to become a doctor, engineer or lawyer. But it goes without saying that jobs in the aviation sector are more lucrative than any of these vocations.
In this context, the Sri Lankan education authorities should strive to create awareness of the career opportunities available in the aviation industry among schoolchildren at least from Grade 9. This is also important in the context of the Government’s plan to hold an examination in Grade 9 to give students the option of choosing between a vocational career path and an academic route. While becoming a pilot definitely has an aura of glamour – literally living the high life – other employment opportunities in the sector are no less appealing. This must be instilled in young minds. SriLankan Airlines, Fits Air, Cinnamon Air, Airport and Aviation Services Limited, BIA, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and other organisations in the aviation sector should collectively hold job fairs in all provinces targeting the school and university population.
Becoming a pilot is not easy by any means – flying school is really expensive. It generally costs around US$ 100,000 (Rs. 30 million approximately) to obtain a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL), and a further investment is needed to get a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL). Currently, airlines operating in Sri Lanka opt for three ways to get pilots – those who retire from the SLAF, those who graduate from flying schools here and abroad and expatriate pilots. But this is not adequate to fill future vacancies. Hence, there is a dire need for the Government to step in and open more affordable pathways for aviation careers.
One success story in this regard is the Sri Lanka Aviation College (SLAC), run by SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier. Just last week, it was recognised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as an IATA Authorised Training Centre Top Performer for 2024. This distinction is awarded to the most outstanding IATA-accredited training institutions worldwide, and advances SLAC into the Preferred Authorised Training Centre category. The SLAC offers high quality job-ready programs led by top-tier instructors, blending real-world knowledge and practical sessions.
Over the years, SLAC has introduced some of the most sought-after IATA programs to students in Sri Lanka, including the Foundation in Travel and Tourism Diploma, Cargo Introductory Course and the Airline Cabin Crew course. It should also begin an ATC course, if one is not already offered as the world is already experiencing a critical shortage of ATC personnel.
The Government should widen the scope of the SLAC and give an opportunity for students from rural areas too to follow its courses, perhaps, by subsidising some of the fees. Scholarships too can be granted for a certain number of students who would like to pursue studies in this sector after the GCE O/Ls or A/Ls. The Government should also explore the possibility of opening more schools of this nature to enable more young people to enter the world of aviation. State universities too should offer aviation-related degree courses with internships at global airlines and aviation companies.
Since there is a growing demand for aviation jobs worldwide, Sri Lankan aviation professionals working abroad could also be a vital source of foreign exchange since these jobs are highly paid. Conversely, our aviation colleges and flying schools should be competitively priced and promoted internationally to attract foreign students, especially from the South Asian region.
The sky’s the limit for growth in the aviation and airline sector, which is enjoying a renaissance after the horrors of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be a win-win situation for all industry stakeholders if more young people take up a career in aviation, which is poised to grow exponentially over the next few decades with Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) air taxis, advanced drones, supersonic aircraft, electric planes, new blended-wing aircraft designs and new advanced helicopters in the offing. There has never been a better time to think anew about this pivotal sector.
