CAE Projects Need for 1.5 Million Civil Aviation Professionals Over Next Decade

CAE Projects Demand for 1.5 Million Civil Aviation Professionals by 2034

According to CAE’s latest biennial Aviation Talent Forecast, the global civil aviation industry will require approximately 1.5 million new professionals by 2034. The 2025 edition of the report underscores significant challenges facing the sector, including an unprecedented wave of retirements across all professional categories and soaring demand for air travel. These factors are intensifying the urgent need to attract, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce to support the industry’s growth and safety standards.

Expanding Fleet and Workforce Needs

The forecast anticipates a substantial increase in the number of aircraft in service worldwide. Commercial aircraft are expected to rise from 33,000 to 44,000 by 2034, while business aircraft will grow from 23,000 to 27,000. This expansion translates into a heightened demand for aviation professionals across various roles. The commercial aviation sector alone will require approximately 1,292,000 new personnel, including 267,000 pilots, 347,000 maintenance technicians, and 678,000 cabin crew members. Business aviation will need an additional 102,000 professionals, comprising 33,000 pilots and 69,000 maintenance technicians. For the first time, the forecast also includes air traffic controllers, projecting a global need for 71,000 new controllers over the next decade.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the most significant percentage increase in demand, reflecting rapid growth in air travel throughout the area.

Addressing Workforce Challenges

Marie-Christine Cloutier, Vice-President of Strategy, Performance, Air Traffic Services & Marketing at CAE, highlighted the critical nature of these projections. She emphasized that the demand for 1.5 million new aviation professionals is driven not only by record air travel but also by a substantial wave of retirements. Cloutier stressed that highly skilled professionals are essential not only for maintaining the safety of the air transport system but also for supporting the sector’s expansion and resilience.

Cloutier further noted that the industry must adopt proactive and innovative approaches to meet these workforce challenges. She pointed out that adaptability and optimized training programs will be crucial in fulfilling the demand. Attracting talent alone is insufficient; ensuring that candidates successfully complete their training and enter the workforce is equally important. High dropout and failure rates persist across all aviation professions. For instance, in the United States, approximately 30% of paid air traffic control students do not complete their training, according to the National Airspace System Safety Review Team.

Innovation and Industry Response

In response to these challenges, CAE is investing in cutting-edge technology and innovative training solutions. These include immersive pilot training applications utilizing Apple Vision Pro and the CAE Prodigy Image Generator, an ultra-realistic 3D visual system that leverages gaming technology to enhance training effectiveness.

The anticipated surge in demand is already influencing the market, with increased interest in training programs and the expansion of training facilities. Industry competitors are also forming new partnerships to address the growing need for qualified professionals.

In a related development, Aircraft Academy has received formal approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to offer EASA Part 66 training and examinations. This certification allows the academy, which is already a Part-147 training facility, to provide comprehensive training and assessment services for aircraft maintenance engineers, ensuring adherence to internationally recognized standards.

As the aviation sector prepares for a pivotal decade, industry leaders emphasize that a comprehensive and modernized training environment will be vital to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding and evolving global fleet.