How do you hire and promote aircraft maintenance personnel?

1 Identify your needs

Before you start looking for candidates, you need to assess your current and future needs for aircraft maintenance personnel. Consider factors such as the size, type, and age of your fleet, the frequency and complexity of maintenance tasks, the regulatory and certification requirements, and the availability and cost of resources. Based on these factors, you can determine how many and what kind of personnel you need, such as licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAMEs), technicians, apprentices, or contractors. You can also identify any skill gaps or shortages that you need to address.

3 Train and develop personnel

After you have hired your aircraft maintenance personnel, you need to provide them with adequate training and development opportunities to ensure they perform their duties effectively and safely. You need to ensure that they have the necessary licenses, certifications, and authorizations to work on your aircraft, such as the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License (AMEL) or the Aircraft Maintenance Technician Certification (AMTC). You also need to provide them with ongoing education and updates on the latest technologies, standards, and regulations in the industry. You can use various methods and tools to deliver training and development, such as classroom sessions, online courses, workshops, mentoring, or simulation.

4 Evaluate and reward performance

To maintain and improve the quality and productivity of your aircraft maintenance personnel, you need to evaluate and reward their performance regularly. You need to establish clear and measurable goals and expectations for each position and individual, and monitor their progress and achievements. You can use various indicators and metrics to measure performance, such as completion rates, turnaround times, error rates, safety records, customer feedback, or audits. You can also use various methods and tools to provide feedback and recognition, such as performance reviews, appraisals, bonuses, awards, or promotions.

5 Promote and retain personnel

To ensure the continuity and growth of your aircraft maintenance staff, you need to promote and retain your best performers. You need to identify and nurture the potential leaders and experts among your personnel, and provide them with opportunities to advance their careers and take on more responsibilities. You can use various strategies and programs to promote and retain your personnel, such as succession planning, career paths, leadership development, or retention incentives. You also need to create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters teamwork, communication, engagement, and loyalty among your personnel.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?