Introduction
This document presents an industry-wide view of workforce capabilities, skills, and the anticipated impact of artificial intelligence across the aviation and aerospace sectors. It consolidates the content of the “Industry Skills Matrix plus AI Impact (GAAST)” report, which is designed as a living, breathing document that evolves as additional feedback, insights, and resources are contributed by stakeholders.
The report provides structured skills matrices for major aviation job families, each including skill levels from beginner to industry leader, along with quantified AI-impact ratings (1–5) and detailed explanations of how emerging technologies will shape roles. It also summarises global research on aviation workforce trends, regional differences, long-term demand forecasts, and anticipated shifts across pilots, cabin crew, engineering, air traffic control, airline management, space technologies, and R&D roles.
Purpose of the Report
The purpose of this report is to synthesise workforce insights that will influence aviation and aerospace over the coming decades, highlighting how job roles and skills are shifting in response to global fleet expansion, new technologies, and AI-enabled transformation. It distills key findings from leading aviation and aerospace authorities—including Boeing, Airbus, IATA, ICAO, FAA, NASA, EASA, Deloitte, the World Economic Forum, and the OECD—as summarised using the Galileo Tool from the Josh Bersin Company with input from GAAST stakeholders.
The report aims to provide a comprehensive view of the technical and behavioural skills required across aviation roles, with specific attention to the level of disruption or augmentation expected from AI. Each operational domain—including Flight Operations, Cabin Crew, Air Traffic Management, Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering, Ground Operations, Management & Administration, Safety & Investigation, Aerospace R&D, Airline Commercial Functions, and Space Technologies—includes detailed skills matrices that outline role expectations from basic understanding through to industry leadership.
In addition to skills mapping, the report examines how workforce demand is expected to change over 5-, 10-, and 20-year horizons, identifying where job growth or decline may occur. It also presents regional comparisons to reflect differences in market maturity, automation adoption, regulatory environments, and growth potential across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.
Ultimately, this report serves as a reference tool to support future workforce planning, regulatory development, training programme design, capability assessment, and long-term industry strategy.
Intended Audience
This report is intended for individuals and organisations involved in shaping, developing, managing, or regulating the aviation and aerospace workforce. This includes:
Industry Leaders & Decision-Makers
To understand how AI and evolving operational models will impact workforce distribution, training requirements, and long-term role viability.
Training Providers & Educational Institutions
To align curricula with emerging competency requirements, particularly in technical, regulatory, and AI-augmented domains.
Regulators & Standards Bodies
To reference projected changes that may influence licensing requirements, safety protocols, oversight responsibilities, and new regulatory frameworks.
HR, Workforce Planners & Organisational Strategists
To identify skills gaps, forecast future hiring needs, and design reskilling initiatives based on detailed skills matrices for each job family.
Aviation & Aerospace Professionals
To understand how their own roles may evolve and what competencies may become critical in the future.
R&D, Technology & Innovation Teams
To monitor where AI and automation will have the greatest impact, especially across safety, propulsion, autonomous systems, and materials science.
Global Stakeholders
To compare regional workforce differences, growth forecasts, and technological adoption across continents.
Body of Report
1. Overview and Source Materials
The report is based on primary sources including Boeing, Airbus, FAA, ICAO, ACI, NASA, AIA, EASA, WEF, McKinsey, Deloitte, IATA, and OECD reports. These insights were synthesised using the Galileo Tool with inputs from GAAST stakeholders.
2. Skills Matrices (Full detail preserved)
The document contains comprehensive skills matrices for:
• Flight Operations
• Cabin Crew
• Air Traffic Management & Navigation
• Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering
• Ground Operations & Airport Services
• Aviation Management & Administration
• Aviation Safety, Security & Investigation
• Aerospace & Aviation R&D
• Airline Commercial & Business Roles
• Space & Future Aviation Technologies
Each includes:
✔ Skill descriptions (beginner → industry leader)
✔ AI-impact score (1–5)
✔ Explanation of AI’s effect on the skill
3. Changing Shape of the Workforce
The document details how workforce proportions and demand will shift due to automation, AI-optimization, global fleet expansion, and growth sectors such as space and sustainable aviation.
Highlights include:
- High demand: Pilots, cabin crew, aircraft maintenance, aerospace engineers, space technologies
- Declining demand: Air traffic control, airline administrative roles, many ground operations tasks
4. Regional Differences (2024–2044)
A full regional comparison is provided for:
- North America
- Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- Middle East
- Latin America
- Africa
Each region includes 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year outlooks.
5. Observations on Future Workforce Demand
The document identifies:
- Strongest long-term job growth: Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa
- Moderate growth: North America, Europe
- Most AI-driven disruption: Latin America
6. Future AI Impact on Aviation Roles
The report summarises AI effects on:
- Pilots & flight crew
- Engineers & technicians
- ATC
- Aerospace R&D
- Ground operations
- Airline administration
With clear indicators of where jobs will grow or decline.
Web Link
A podcast overviewing the matrix
Listen on Spotify
Galileo Tool – Josh Bersin Company
https://getgalileo.ai/agent