The aviation sector is entering one of its most significant transitions since the introduction of jet engines. Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and large-scale drone logistics are set to redefine regional transport, urban mobility, and last-mile delivery. According to PwC’s Advanced Air Mobility report, the global AAM market is projected to grow to £12.5 billion by 2040, highlighting both economic opportunity and skill demand. These new aircraft concepts rely on highly automated systems, streamlined licensing pathways, and digitally orchestrated operations, which represent a departure from traditional aviation roles.

For recruitment partners, training organisations and aviation employers, this shift presents both strategic challenges and substantial opportunity. Preparing the workforce early will be essential to ensure efficient integration of these new mobility systems into the wider aviation landscape.

The New Types of Aviation Talent Required

With eVTOLs and drone logistics scaling up, the sector will require a variety of emerging roles. Pilots who fly eVTOLs must be comfortable managing high levels of automation and digital flight systems. Meanwhile, drone fleet operators remotely pilot aircraft and supervise autonomous flights, all whilst evaluating operational risks and intervening during non-standard events. Their work will rely heavily on data interpretation, real-time monitoring, and digital decision-support tools.

Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) expertise will become a critical skill category. Specialists in this field will manage high-density low-altitude operations, integrate eVTOL and drone fleets into controlled and uncontrolled airspace, and maintain coordination across a rapidly evolving regulatory framework. Remote tower and monitoring staff will control vertiport operations from centralised facilities using high-definition video, sensors, and AI systems.

On the technical side, specialists in electric propulsion, particularly high-voltage systems and battery diagnostics, will be essential. Safety in these new aircraft will increasingly depend on digital and AI-enabled safety officers, who monitor operations through predictive analytics. In turn, battery and high-voltage technicians will play a central role in eVTOL maintenance, managing energy storage, certification, and repair of critical power systems.

“Advanced air mobility will only scale safely and sustainably if the industry invests early in the people who will operate and maintain these systems,” notes AERVIVA’S CEO Mindaugas Rainys “Technology may transform the aircraft, but the workforce will determine how effectively and responsibly we use it.”

Market Demand

Analysts project that advanced air mobility will generate one of the most significant labour expansions in aviation. According to PwC, AAM could deliver £2.1 billion in annual socio-economic benefit in the UK by 2040. Their report also highlights vital workforce areas: training, safety, and infrastructure development.

Pilot demand alone is expected to be substantial. FLT Academy projects that early eVTOL operations will require tens of thousands of new pilots, with some optimistic forecasts putting pilot needs as high as 60,000 by 2028. They note that fully autonomous or remotely supervised eVTOLs could drive a shift in pilot roles, reducing hours per aircraft but increasing the need for remote operators.

The infrastructure outlook reinforces the talent pressure: a Business Aviation News report estimates that 123,000 additional aviation technicians will be needed over the next 20 years to support AAM systems. This encompasses roles in maintenance, vertiport support, battery systems and UTM infrastructure.

How Will Training and Licensing Evolve?

Training for eVTOL and drone operations will differ markedly from conventional aviation pathways. Regulators are developing simplified licensing models that better suit eVTOL aircraft with high automation and unique flight dynamics. For instance, eVTOL pilots may train on shorter cycles than traditional fixed-wing pilots, because modern electric aircraft often include safeguards, “fly-by-wire” controls, and envelope protection systems.

Training programmes will also shift towards system management, human-machine interaction and oversight of automated modes. Drone operators, on the other hand, will require certifications aligned with UTM, risk assessment, real-time airspace coordination, and automated mission supervision.

Maintenance technicians will also need new licensing, as eVTOLs rely on high-voltage battery packs, energy storage certification and high-voltage safety become core competencies. The shift marks a broader change in aviation education: digital literacy, safety data analytics, and system-level thinking are now fundamental to professional development.

Strategic Talent Planning for Recruitment Firms

Recruitment agencies that serve the aviation industry must begin investing in long-term workforce planning. Forming partnerships with flight academies, universities and technical training institutes will be essential to ensure that competencies taught today match the skills required for commercial AAM operations. These training pipelines will feed talent into operations, remote control, and maintenance jobs.

Outreach efforts must also expand into adjacent industries. Professionals in electrical engineering, robotics, software development and data science represent a pool of talent that can transition to high-impact AAM roles, such as AI-safety analysts or battery engineers. Recruitment firms must map out clear career pathways: from junior drone operator or technician to UAM operations manager or remote tower lead.

Equally important is reskilling the existing aviation workforce. Current pilots, MRO technicians and air traffic professionals can be retrained to support electric propulsion, remote operations and data-driven safety systems. Recruitment partners must remain agile as new certifications (e.g., for remote eVTOL pilots or UTM specialists) and regulations evolve.

“The companies that prepare their teams now will be the ones who lead the first wave of commercial eVTOL and drone operations,” says AERVIVA’S CBO, Jekaterina Shalopanova. “Our role is to help organisations secure the talent that will shape this new aviation era.”

Safety, Automation and Human-Centred Roles

The increased use of automation in eVTOLs and drones does not diminish the importance of human expertise. Instead, it will shift the nature of their work to be more focused on supervision, safety and operational decision-making. Digital safety officers will use AI-driven tools to interpret performance trends, detect anomalies and intervene before operational risks escalate. This human-on-the-loop oversight ensures that technology enhances safety rather than replaces judgement.

Even in semi-autonomous or autonomous eVTOL operations, human-in-the-loop supervision will likely remain a regulatory requirement. Remote pilots will intervene when necessary: during complex emergencies, system failure or severe weather. Meanwhile, high-voltage technicians will safeguard the power systems behind electric aviation, guaranteeing both performance and compliance.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

This new mobility era also brings significant challenges. Regulatory frameworks for eVTOL certification, UTM operations, and crew licensing remain under development. Industry stakeholders: operators, regulators and training providers, must collaborate to define consistent, scalable guidelines.

Building training infrastructure will require substantial investment. Simulation centres, vertiport labs and energy-storage training hubs do not yet exist at scale. With demand increasing, companies must strategise workforce development now; otherwise, a skills bottleneck could delay business deployment.

Recruiting for high-tech roles will be competitive. Demand for AI safety officers, high-voltage technicians and UTM specialists could outstrip supply without proactive hiring and retention strategies. In parallel, public perception will also influence adoption rates. Organisations must demonstrate strong safety performance, transparent communication and operational reliability to build trust in autonomous and electric aircraft systems.

Recommendations for Aviation Professionals

Professionals seeking to enter the eVTOL and drone logistics sectors should begin preparing now, because workforce demand is projected to rise sharply over the next decade. The transition will reward individuals who act early, build the right certifications, and position themselves for emerging roles.

Current pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and air traffic personnel can reposition themselves effectively through targeted upskilling. Pilots may transition toward eVTOL operations, remote supervision roles, or autonomous systems oversight. Engineers can adapt their expertise by studying electric propulsion, battery systems, or digital diagnostics. Air traffic controllers and flight operations staff can prepare for UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) by developing knowledge in airspace digitalisation, surveillance technologies, and automated deconfliction procedures.

Digital skills will increasingly define employability. Even those without technical backgrounds can begin by learning the fundamentals of remote operations, systems management, and risk-based decision-making. AAM employers will look for individuals who combine aviation judgement with strong digital literacy.

The first wave of eVTOL and drone logistics companies will prioritise adaptable individuals who demonstrate a willingness to learn new systems and who understand how safety, regulation, and technology converge in AAM.

Charting the Flightpath Ahead

eVTOLs and drone logistics are ushering in a workforce revolution. The projected demand for pilots, technicians, remote operators, safety professionals and UTM specialists will force the aviation industry to rethink how it attracts, trains, and retains talent. By acting decisively today, stakeholders can ensure that advanced air mobility delivers not only innovation in transport but also sustainable and inclusive job growth.