From March 11 to 12, 2025, the ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Office and the JAA Training Organisation (JAA TO) jointly organized an Aviation Training and Skills Workshop at the ICAO Paris office. The event brought together over 80 aviation experts from across the EUR/NAT region to address critical workforce challenges and explore strategies for strengthening aviation training and skills development.
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The aviation sector is facing significant challenges, including staffing shortages, digital transformation, emerging technologies, and evolving security risks. During the workshop, participants highlighted the urgent need for strategic workforce planning, enhanced training programs, and stronger collaboration between regulatory bodies, training institutions, and industry stakeholders.
A central theme of the discussions was the importance of aligning training initiatives with industry needs to ensure a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of meeting future demands.
The workshop identified four priority areas to improve the future workforce strategies:
- Developing a regional skills monitoring framework to bridge the gap between training and workforce needs
- Fostering a culture of lifelong learning to keep aviation professionals updated and agile in response to industry shifts
- Attracting diverse talents at early stage – the aviation ecosystem should engage with young professionals through outreach programs, educational initiatives, and scholarship opportunities
- Building bridges : Strengthening Collaboration Within and Beyond Aviation develop partnerships within and beyond the aviation ecosystem for enhanced training solutions
One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the role of AI and automation in aviation training. While these technologies present valuable opportunities, participants emphasized that they should serve to enhance human expertise rather than replace it. The consensus was that innovation should be purpose-driven—addressing real industry challenges rather than being adopted for novelty alone.
The Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) programme was highlighted as a key framework for shaping future workforce strategies. Participants stressed the need for coordinated efforts at pan-regional, regional, and national levels to ensure sustainable workforce development.
For more details visit https://www.icao.int/EURNAT/Pages/ICAO-EURNAT-Aviation-Training-and-Skills-Workshop
