What’s Working? A Reflection on 2025 Aircraft Maintenance Updates and Workforce Insights
Key Highlights
- Adopting new maintenance technologies, including AI and digital tools, helps mitigate workforce shortages and improve operational efficiency.
- Streamlining repair shop operations through digitization and improved communication enhances profitability and productivity.
- Implementing safety management systems and maintaining rigorous record-keeping are critical for regulatory compliance and safety assurance.
With new technologies for aviation maintenance entering the market, an AMT shortage remaining ongoing and updates to policies and procedures being shared, 2025 brought transformation to the MRO sector.
Here are 10 articles from 2025 that explore workforce insights and updates in aircraft maintenance, from appealing to new AMTs to adopting new best practices.
Responding to the AMT shortage
1. Understanding the AMT Shortage: Why It’s Happening and How To Help
With an ongoing shortage of new AMTs entering the industry, Aviation Pros shares perspectives on why the shortage is significant for aviation and how to mitigate it. Alex Jackson and Matt Panchal of Woodward discuss entering the industry and how organizations can appeal to fellow young professionals who want to work with their hands.
2. How To Bridge the Generational Gap Between New and Veteran AMTs and A&Ps
Covering his talk from the 2025 NBAA Maintenance Conference, this article shares personal anecdotes and statistical research from Alfredo Garcia of ACI Jet about how young AMTs and veteran AMTs can learn from and support each other. Garcia explains the generational gap in the aircraft maintenance workforce and explores methods for mitigating it.
Embracing new technologies
3. Embracing Change: How Implementing New Maintenance Technology Can Help Mitigate Workforce Shortages
Tying into the AMT shortage, this article highlights how MROs can facilitate a strong, skilled workforce by adopting new technology and digital tools. This includes appealing to new talent by highlighting use of tech during recruitment, integrating AI into MRO processes and trying new digital tools and systems.
4. Closing the MRO Talent Gap: How AI and Digital Solutions Keep Aircraft Ready to Fly
VP Aerospace & Defense at IFS Rob Mather discusses the challenges of maintaining a workforce shortage and servicing an aging global fleet, showcasing how digitalization and AI can contribute to solutions for both. He outlines key impacts on the MRO workforce, ways the supply chain factors in and a list of ways to start implementing digital tools to increase productivity in MRO.
Enhancing operations in the repair shop
5. EmpowerMX Experts Advise MROs on New Systems for Profitability and Productivity
Exploring how MROs can improve efficiency by breaking down traditional silos in the repair shop, Hugh Revie and Roger Sixto of EmpowerMX share ideas that maintenance teams can use to streamline operations. Some topics they cover include digitizing processes and ensuring ongoing communication between teams so everyone is on the same page.
6. Nicole Dyehouse Highlights NBAA’s Five Steps for Success for Operators at BACE 2025
Reflecting on Nicole Dyehouse’s presentation at NBAA BACE 2025, this article discusses the “Five Simple Steps” that the NBAA has developed for maintenance departments to optimize their efficiency. Dyehouse advises maintenance teams and leaders on how to implement new systems like an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Emergency Response Plans (ERP).
7. Strengthening MRO Success: How Quality Parts Drive Compliance, Performance and Innovation
Showcasing how effective aircraft maintenance begins at the design and manufacturing stage, Stephen Zurel of Jamco writes about why quality assurance for OEM parts is key for mitigating risk and ensuring accuracy and safety in maintenance. Zurel also provides insight into how Jamco maintains parts compliance and quality.
Spotlighting safety
8. Reflection on Inspection: How to Prepare and Why Record Keeping is Crucial
Brett Levanto of ARSA shares his expertise on the importance of efficient record keeping and planning for aircraft inspections. Levanto provides examples and resources that maintenance teams can use to ensure they comply with all regulatory requirements for repair stations and improve their processes for inspections.
9. EASA Part 145 Repair Stations Now Required to Implement SMS Under Rule Change
This article highlights a rule change from August by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandates EASA Part 145 to implement official safety management systems (SMS). Covering information shared in a NATA webinar, it outlines who’s impacted by the change and how to comply with it.
10. How Jet Linx is Enhancing Aviation Safety in the Workplace
VP Safety at Jet Linx RD Johnson discusses trends that impact aviation safety, spotlighting the company’s safety management systems and the increasing popularity of predictive safety procedures. He shares how using specific systems and technological tools enhances safety at Jet Linx and why the company’s annual Safety Summit is significant for ongoing learning and improvement.
