Both the aviation and general press have been regularly flagging up the concerning lack of qualified pilots, cabin crew and ground crew at a time when the popularity of flying is continuing to increase. Artemis Aerospace is doing its bit to help out by becoming a sponsor of The Air League. Read on to find out about this amazing organisation.
We’ve written before about the increasing scarcity of people working in the aviation sector. According to Statista, projections show that the global pilot shortage could reach 50,000 by next year. However, this issue isn’t confined to pilots.
Following the worldwide lay-off and furlough of staff during the pandemic, 2.3 million jobs were lost in aviation. Many of these people didn’t return once restrictions were lifted, having retired or found other jobs. There is a shortage of cabin crew, which can lead to rostering issues and flight cancellations, and airlines are struggling to recruit ground crew, which not only includes vital jobs such as flight dispatchers, ramp agents and operations staff, but also maintenance engineers without whose expertise an aircraft can’t be passed as fit to fly. The situation is expected to worsen over the next few years.
It’s such a major problem that opinion is divided as to the best way to address it. Many airlines have set up their own training schools, often with bursaries, such as the British Airways Global Learning Academy, which trains pilots, cabin crew and engineers, and its Speedbird Pilot Academy which provides fully funded flight training. As the cost of training as a pilot is around £100,000, and must be self-funded, this is a very substantial benefit. The fact that in its first year there were 20,000 applications for just 100 places shows that the enthusiasm is there, but the cost is often prohibitive.
Following the 25th anniversary of Artemis’ founding in 1999, the team decided that we wanted to do something to help the situation, and after a lot of thought, we are delighted to announce that we’re becoming a corporate sponsor of The Air League.
Founded in 1909, The Air League is the UK’s leading aviation, aerospace and space charity. It aims to change lives by inspiring, enabling and supporting the next generation of aviation professionals from all backgrounds, and break down the barriers into these industries through its scholarship and outreach programmes. It increases social mobility by acting as a catalyst to show that these opportunities are available to everyone, including disadvantaged youngsters and wounded and injured servicemen and women. Many young people from a diverse range of backgrounds may have no idea that their skill set could be ideal for a career in aviation. The Air League aims to spark an interest in our future pilots, cabin crew, engineers, logistics technicians and ground crew – experts we will need more than ever in the coming years.
Over the last ten years, scholarships and bursaries worth over £2 million have been allocated to young people across the UK to enhance their careers in aviation.
The Air League delivers a range of programmes from early education through to career entry and beyond. This includes workshops, hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes tours facilitated in partnership with aviation, aerospace and space corporate partners. Its Soaring to Success careers enrichment programme bridges the gap between education and industry, providing accessible pathways, removing barriers to entry and demonstrating that there is a role for anyone who has an interest in these dynamic sectors. Other programmes support veterans, champion diversity and inspire sustainable innovation.
Jim and Deborah Scott are the co-founders of Artemis Aerospace. Deborah said:
“As business owners and parents, we know that the route to work isn’t always straightforward, especially for those trying to find a fulfilling career that suits their interests and skill sets, but who are uncertain of how to get there. This makes The Air League the perfect fit for our vision of supporting those who are keen to work in the industry, but don’t know how, and those who don’t know about the diverse range of job roles on offer but would make ideal candidates.”
Jim added:
“We’re delighted to be supporting The Air League and making our contribution to helping people to reach their full potential while alleviating the shortage of aviation professionals and spreading the word about the amazing and diverse career opportunities available.”
