The Challenges of Aviation Resourcing in Maintenance Organisations

In today’s fast-changing aviation industry, maintenance organisations globally are struggling to secure and sustain the skilled resources they need. The ability to attract, train, and retain qualified maintenance professionals has become a defining factor in operational performance and compliance readiness.

At Jotore Aviation, we work closely with maintenance and engineering teams across APAC, and it is an issue that is not isolated. Here’s an in-depth look at the top challenges in aviation maintenance resourcing and how strategic workforce planning can make all the difference.

1. Skilled Labour Shortages

The aviation maintenance industry is facing one of its most critical labour shortages in decades. Many organisations are competing for a shrinking pool of qualified Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs), planners, and support trades personnel (painters, welders, trimmers and NDT).

Key causes include:

• An ageing workforce with high retirement rates.

• Fewer apprentices and trainees entering the field.

• Post-pandemic career shifts to industries offering better stability or pay.

This shortage impacts productivity drives up costs, and increases operational risk as organisations rely on overtime or temporary staff to meet demand.

2. Training and Competency Management

Keeping staff trained and compliant is a growing challenge. Maintenance personnel must remain current with both regulatory requirements and new aircraft technologies.

Common issues include:

• Outdated or fragmented training records.

• Difficulty scheduling recurrent training without affecting operations.

• Rapid evolution of digital tools and data systems.

Without a structured training management program, maintenance organisations risk falling behind compliance obligations under Part 145 and CAMO regulations. Whilst airlines and MRO's in the APC region are now starting to invest in Engineering Aviation Academies and increased Apprenticeship Programs for young Engineers to be trained, it will be a slow burn to get to the numbers required.

3. Workforce Planning and Retention

Effective workforce planning is essential for balancing operational demand with available resource supply. However, unpredictable maintenance workloads, seasonal variations, sub-optimal planning and unexpected findings make forecasting difficult.

Retention is equally challenging as younger technicians and engineers increasingly prioritise:

• Career development pathways.

• Work-life balance.

• Opportunities to diversify their skill sets.

• Higher remuneration from other industries who identify transferrable skills

Without addressing these factors, organisations will continue face high turnover and knowledge gaps that undermine long-term capability.

4. Regulatory and Compliance Pressures

Compliance and safety standards are non-negotiable. Yet when resources are tight, maintaining the required staffing levels and qualifications can become difficult.

Maintenance organisations must ensure:

• Certifying staff hold valid authorisations.

• Records are complete, traceable, and up to date.

• Sufficient oversight within both CAMO and AMO structures.

Short-term resourcing fixes can inadvertently create long-term compliance (and financial) risks if not managed strategically.

5. Balancing Cost Efficiency with Capability

Financial constraints frequently lead to decisions to outsource maintenance, decrease staffing levels, or expedite training and industry experience requirements. Although outsourcing may provide short-term benefits, it can also diminish internal capability, continuity, and control over functions critical to safety. Appropriate resource management enables organisations to maintain capability without compromising compliance or safety.

A balanced approach involves:

• Forecasting resource needs based on fleet utilisation with an over the horizon view.

• Building flexible teams that can scale with demand.

• Investing in digital tools that improve visibility of workloads and skill coverage.

Conclusion

Aviation maintenance resourcing is one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry today. Organisations that invest in proactive workforce planning, training systems, and compliance oversight are better positioned to navigate uncertainty, sustain operational performance and maintain compliance and safety.

At Jotore Aviation, we support maintenance organisations with tailored resourcing strategies, system health diagnostics, and capability reviews — helping ensure your operation remains compliant, efficient, and future-ready.

Call to Action

Contact Jotore Aviation today to discuss how we can help optimise your maintenance workforce and strengthen your regulatory compliance framework.

Thanks, and stay safe,

Craig.