As another postpandemic year rolls on, it’s tempting to forget the upheaval of the Covid era. After all, recovery in the business aviation sector was strong and despite a recent stabilisation, fleet utilisation remains high and the market outlook optimistic. However, one aspect that continues to play out is the significant impact on the labour market, particularly where technical roles are concerned.
The industry continues to experience a dynamic employment landscape, facing challenges driven by internal and externalare recruiting aggressively and attracting pilots from other sectors. Business and general aviation pilots, at all stages of their careers, are drawn by factors such as competitive salary and bonus packages, reduced entrance barriers, routine rostering and clear pathways for career progression. Even within the corporate sector there continues to be a lot of movement. In some cases, greater workloads from significantly increased flying operations are pushing crews towards burnout, and perhaps inspiring a search for better work-life balance. Concurrently, new entrants and fleet expansion provide new possibilities for career progression.