Recently I was reviewing a new Aeronautical Repair Station Association report that highlighted some interesting figures about the global MRO market. Of the $50 billion spent globally, here in North America we can account for $19.4 billon of that figure. When you take a look at all the related MRO businesses in the United States and the impact they have on the U.S. economy, the supporting economic figure is more like $39 billion annually. This report also summarizes that the exported services are good for the U.S. economy due to the fact that we have the economic competitive advantage. Every dollar spent exporting is generating more revenue stateside.
The information leads you to believe that the United States has potential to further increase its exporting of maintenance services while growing the economy for our benefit. My question is where do the aviation maintenance jobs stateside begin to grow along with this plan? They don’t. The report states that 200,000 MRO employees are working here in the United States which accounts for 21 percent of the entire industry’s employment. It seems to me this 21 percent is far too small for a country that is supposed to be the leader in aviation and its technological advances. Most of us have had to relocate due to a change in our careers at some time or another but would you consider leaving the country for your next job in the same field?
Be sure to check out John Goglia’s article in this issue and let us know your thoughts on these foreign MRO topics. Send feedback to: [email protected].
The NBAA annual convention is right around the corner. This issue contains the NBAA Maintenance Preview to help you sort through the many events planned for the show. AMT will be in Orlando, exhibiting in booth #1856, be sure to stop by and say hi!
AMTSociety has just kicked off another road show tour of training events, don’t miss the stops in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on October 14 and in Mahwah, NJ, on October 28! Don’t forget each seminar meets the requirements contained in FAR 65.93(A)(4) for Inspection Authorization (IA) renewal training and is acceptable toward 8 hours of training for IA renewal and the William (Bill) O’Brien AMT Awards Program.
Until next time we’ll see you online: forums.AMTonline.com.
Thanks for reading!
Jon Jezo
