During his musings around 2,500 years ago, philosopher Heraclitus specifically made reference to the fact that “You cannot step into the same river twice” – for by the time your second step has pierced the surface of the everflowing waters, the very nature of the river below has completely changed. The ancient Greeks had nowhere near the technological prowess of modern-day humans, but never have these words rang truer than at this current point in time.

Over the past 20 years, aviation has fundamentally changed. Global annual air travel has more than doubled over the past two decades, rising from approximately 2.1 billion passengers in 2005 to 4.7 billion in 2024. While in 2005 it was enough to have technical knowledge and follow instructions, today that is no longer sufficient. Digital solutions, artificial intelligence, big data, and automated systems have entered the aviation industry. The internet has transformed not only communication but also aircraft maintenance, safety monitoring, and real-time decision-making.

The Key Skills in Demand

Airports are significantly increasing their investment in new technologies, with a strong focus on smart systems, such as passenger flow management and automated security points, that are designed to improve the passenger experience. In fact, according to SITA’s 2023 Air Transport IT Insights, 82% of airports are implementing or planning to implement biometric identity management and automated passenger processing systems to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

This is a key part of the air travel sector’s recovery strategy, according to the Airports Council International. These developments underscore why it’s so important for aviation professionals to keep their skills current. Digital literacy, for instance, has become essential. Increasingly, the ability to understand and interpret data is central to how work gets done across the industry.

Technical Ability

No job can be done without the technical ability to carry it out. Whether that’s a technical skill, qualification, or on the job experience – you need to determine how to become the very best at whatever it is you’re doing – and then go for it!

For some, that may be further specialization in their academic qualifications, on the job training, mentorship or a focus on one’s interpersonal skills. As a matter of, World Economic Forum found that 44% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2027 due to the rapid change in technology.
Additionally, a LinkedIn report revealed that employees who are commited to to learning new skills are 39% more likely to feel productive and 47% more likely to find a purpose in their work.

Each role has its own set of technical standards, but across the industry itself, it’s vital to have a clear understanding of what these are and how professionals can keep their skills relevant.

“As aviation evolves, so do the technical demands on its people. We believe the future belongs to those who are ready to learn, adapt, and lead with skill”, says Jekaterina Shalopanova, CBO at AERVIVA – an international organization focusing on global aviation recruitment.

Situational Awareness

Not many industries in the world are as high stakes as Aviation. With around 2.9 million passengers in the USA alone on a daily basis and a global annual average of 4.5 billion passengers, there are a lot of lives on the line and a lot of cogs in the metaphorical machine that need to keep moving for things to run smoothly.

It goes without saying that situational awareness is critical across the entire industry. According to Dr Mica Endsley, in a study conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority, there are three key processes in situational awareness: perception, comprehension, and projection. Perception is the skill to analyse and scan the environment around oneself, whereas comprehension is the ability to understand the goals and tasks within the environment itself.

Finally, projection is the ability to anticipate what will happen in the near future. All three are instrumental in aviation, with perhaps the ability to project and anticipate being the most valuable of the three. This high level of awareness allows professionals to act quickly, accurately, and confidently while conducting their roles. This high level of awareness enables aviation professionals to act quickly, accurately, and confidently. According to research by SKYbrary, improving situational awareness could help prevent up to 85% of aviation incidents, reinforcing its critical role in maintaining safety and smooth operations.

Data Analysis

Trying to grasp the sheer scale of data within aviation is mind boggling. Hundreds of gigabytes of data are generated on each flight – of which thousands upon thousands of flights occur each day. On average, each flight generates data ranging from tens of megabytes to a few terabytes, but this also depends on the aircraft itself and the sensors it has. When it comes to modern-day aircraft, such as an Airbus A350, it collects 10,000 times more data when compared to older aircraft of the 1990s and 2000s. Annually, Additionally, every year around 100 million terabytes of data are generated around the world.

This data includes information from flight data recorders, engine and system sensors, avionics, passenger connectivity systems, and real-time monitoring tools used for safety, maintenance, and operational efficiency. The adoption of advanced analytics, IoT-enabled technologies, and AI-driven solutions in aviation has greatly increased the volume of data collected and transmitted during each flight, especially for newer aircraft models.

Those working within the aviation industry are required to be able to read, interpret, and act on this information. This is a valuable skill to have across many roles, from logistics to traffic management, people operations, security and ground operations. Perhaps the skill of data analysis is most prominent within aircraft maintenance. Consider an avionic technician, for instance, whose role requires the ability to read and understand the current status report of a plane’s technical systems, and then efficiently act upon that information so as to produce shorter testing periods, resulting in on-time completion.

“Planes generate a massive amount of data every day, and knowing how to interpret that data makes a real impact. It’s not just about reading system reports, it’s about doing it fast and accurately to keep operations running smoothly,” notes AERVIVA’s CBO, Jekaterina Shalopanova.

Adapting to Technology and Change

On average, Boeing invests 3 billion USD annually into research and development in a bid to continually reinvent and optimise its offerings. Major aviation companies are investing in propulsion systems, air travel overall passenger experience, and traffic management, to name a few. With each major advancement made, professionals are being called to adapt quickly, depending on the needs at that moment in time. Although it is important to highlight that having the latest technology can also lead to unexpected challenges.

According to Avionics International, due to the rapid technological changes happening in the industry, avionic technicians are having to constantly change how they perform tasks. Having to keep up with the evolving technological changes, such as artificial intelligence, is something of a challenge at times.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are two of the most recent impactful trends that are being adopted by the industry, according to a Forbes report. AI and ML are becoming increasingly important in managing difficult operations and analysing large amounts of data. More than 80% of new aircraft now include predictive digital systems, and 81% of aerospace companies are deploying AI/ML for maintenance, safety, and logistics. Integrating these new technological tools in an effective manner requires a lot of time, training, and a willingness to change.

A study conducted by Global Market Insights found that the AI market size in the aviation industry was valued at $686.4 million. By 2032, the industry can potentially see a significant increase in investment of up to $4 billion.

Ongoing Education and Networking

One of the best ways of staying competitive in the industry is by continuously completing training and educational courses. There are many industry-leading institutions, such as ICAO and IATA, that offer programs designed to keep professionals upskilled.

EASA offer a variety of courses for professionals to upskill and develop. According to a 2023 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development. They offer courses in many different areas, such as Pilot Training, Flight Simulation Training, Safety Analysis Reporting, and Single Pilot Decision Making.

On the other hand, JAA TO offers globally recognised qualifications that allow inexperienced and experienced individuals to grow into a career they desire. They offer a range of courses, such as Airport Financial Management, Advanced Safety Management System, and many others.

Apart from completing training courses, it is also highly important to network, as it can be incredibly beneficial. According to Forbes, networking is a good opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, helping to build valuable connections, which may also provide long-term benefits. These connections can lead to mentorship opportunities, industry insights, and job referrals.

Staying Ahead in a Competitive Industry

So in an ever-evolving industry within a rapidly changing world, the 2,500 year-old saying from heraclitus bears scrutiny.

To fear change is foolish, to resist it is futile but if you can embrace it, then you’re onto something.

Gone are the days of not needing to upskill, of lifetime jobs and lifelong certifications. Aviation was – and always will be – relentless in the pursuit of excellence. The ideal candidate in today’s job market is one who possesses a deep technical knowledge, a sound situational awareness, an ability to decode data efficiently and an unwavering tenacity to welcome technological change, time and time again.