February 5, 2025 - No. 06 In This Issue : FAA transitions to electronic aircraft registrations : GE Aerospace Foundation initiative, ‘Next Engineers’ Program to Bengaluru : New Air Force Plan: Just 7 Aircraft Maintenance AFSCs : Billions For Next Generation Fighter Jet Engines Greenlit By Air Force : An ‘aerial version of Moore’s Law’ has dramatically improved safety, but an aviation expert notes this disturbing trend : Boom Goes Supersonic, Makes Civil Aviation History : Basler delivers two BT-67 conversions : Former Marine finds niche in TSTC’s Aircraft Airframe Technology program : RYANAIR STARTS BUILDING NEW €40 MILLION AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT DUBLIN AIRPORT : Boeing Sets New Delivery Record : Airlines Hiring Mechanics in 2025 FAA transitions to electronic aircraft registrations By General Aviation News Staff January 26, 2025 The FAA has released a final rule, effective Jan. 17, 2025, that allows for aircraft registration and dealer certificates to be issued electronically. The final rule notes that electronic certificates will be the default way of delivering certificates to aircraft owners. The certificates will be emailed directly to aircraft owners, replacing the traditional seven to 10 business days wait for mailed paper versions. However, the final rule notes that aircraft owners who prefer a physical document can request one, “ensuring flexibility for all users.” The move is expected to save the FAA approximately $58,575 annually by eliminating printing and mailing costs, while also reducing the environmental footprint of the registration process. The Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) platform will become the hub for digital submissions, payments, and document access, fully replacing the legacy system by late 2025, according to FAA officials. As the aviation community adapts to this new system, the FAA will provide resources and support to ensure a smooth transition for all in the aviation community, officials added. What Stays the Same Aircraft registration requirements and compliance rules remain unchanged. Certificates, whether electronic or paper, must still be carried aboard the aircraft to meet regulatory standards. Procedures for updating ownership or status changes will adapt for electronic certificates, but notifications must still occur within specified timeframes. To read the final rule, go to Regulations.gov GE Aerospace Foundation initiative, ‘Next Engineers’ Program to Bengaluru The Hans India Hans News Service 4 Feb 2025 5:57 PM IST Bengaluru: The GE Aerospace Foundation has announced the expansion of its global engineering education initiative, ‘Next Engineers’, to Bengaluru, aiming to inspire young students to pursue careers in engineering. This marks a significant step in the foundation’s efforts to build a robust engineering talent pipeline in India, leveraging Bengaluru’s status as a hub for engineering and innovation. The program, which prepares students from middle school to college for engineering careers, is currently active in cities such as Cincinnati and Greenville in the United States, Johannesburg in South Africa, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom, and Warsaw in Poland. With its introduction in Bengaluru, the program is set to engage students locally through mentorship, hands-on learning, and career guidance. Also Read - Bengaluru: Frustration Grows as Namma Metro Yellow Line Faces Another Delay “GE Aerospace in India has been at the forefront of advancing new technologies for over 25 years,” said Alok Nanda, Chief Technology Officer at GE Aerospace’s India Technology Centre. “The Next Engineers program will deepen our engagement with students and encourage more young minds to explore engineering as a career.” The selection of Bengaluru was driven by factors including GE Aerospace’s significant presence in the city, its manufacturing and engineering capabilities, and its history of STEM education initiatives in the local community. The company also plans to collaborate with an academic partner, which will be announced later this year, to facilitate the program’s rollout. Meghan Thurlow, President of the GE Aerospace Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, highlighting the program’s global impact. “To date, nearly 22,000 students worldwide have benefited from the Next Engineers program. With this expansion, we hope to inspire even more students in India to envision the possibilities of an engineering career.” The foundation has committed $20 million globally through 2030 to expand the program. This initiative aligns with the foundation’s mission to support engineering education, workforce development, and community upliftment, as well as GE Aerospace’s broader purpose to “lift people up” in communities where it operates. Photo: USAF New Air Force Plan: Just 7 Aircraft Maintenance AFSCs Jan. 27, 2025 By David Roza A new Air Force memo lays out how the service aims to condense its list of more than 50 aircraft maintenance job specialties down to seven, starting in 2027. In a memo dated Jan. 24, maintenance career field managers at Headquarters Air Force said the change will focus younger maintainers on entry-level tasks and free up experienced hands for more technical work. The memo was leaked on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco, and an Air Force spokesperson confirmed it was authentic. “An in-depth analysis confirmed what many of you already know: as maintainers, a small number of our tasks consume the majority of our time,” wrote Chief Master Sgts. Abbi G. Cabeen, Joseph L. Hicks, and Timothy M. Wells, who manage the avionics, aircraft systems, and crew chief career fields, respectively. “The future force design leverages this and trains early-career Airmen on our most common tasks, which will free up experienced Airmen to focus on tasks that require substantial expertise,” they wrote. Under the new plan, junior enlisted Airmen will start out in a generalist track, a single Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) where they will be trained “on the most common maintenance competencies and be charged with applying them across multiple airframes,” according to the memo. Those common tasks include launching, recovering, and fueling aircraft, but Airmen will also be exposed to more specific skills in the generalized track. Once Airmen reach the rank of Senior Airman and are preparing to become noncommissioned officers, they will become a specialist in one of six areas: 1. Avionics and Electrical, which combines avionics with the electrical side of the Environmental and Electrical (E&E) specialty 2. Aerospace Ground Equipment, which will look the same as it does now 3. Advanced Mechanical, which combines crew chiefs, fuels, hydraulics, and the flight line side of engine maintenance 4. Crew Support Systems, which combines ejection seat systems with the environmental side of E&E 5. Fabrication, which combines aircraft structural maintenance, aircraft metals technology, and nondestructive inspection. 6. Intermediate-level engines, for maintainers dedicated to intermediate-level engine maintenance. The specialties would not be tied to an airframe, which the memo said will allow “for more assignments and development opportunities for ALL 2A Airmen.” 2A is the general term for aircraft maintenance AFSCs. There are about 86,000 2A aircraft maintainers across the service, according to 2024 data. Airmen will stay in a specialized track through the rank of technical sergeant, at which point they can apply for the “highly selective” technical track, where Airmen become “THE nose to tail cross-functional expert” on a given airframe. Selectees would pick up skills from all six specialties and focus on just one airframe. Alternatively, technical sergeants can stay in a specialist track until they reach master sergeant, where they switch to the leadership track providing institutional and functional oversight. Airmen can stay in the technical or leadership track through the rest of their careers, or they could switch between the two tracks. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Goodman, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron engines technician, inspects the engine of a C-17 Globemaster III during Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Nov. 29, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Makensie Cooper) The memo comes about four months after Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi floated the idea to reporters at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. He cited an analysis by Air Force headquarters which identified 54 aircraft maintenance AFSCs and noted that of the many tasks they train for, only 20 percent of them account for 80 percent of the work. Focusing on that first 20 percent early on in a maintainer’s career “will provide us more agility on the flight line,” the chief said. “We’ll have more people that are qualified on the tasks that are most frequently done, and then bolt-on capability capacity.” Flosi said the impetus for these changes is the possibility of conflict against China or Russia, where smaller groups of Airmen will have to generate aircraft from farther-flung airstrips. “We’ll be contested in the air, on the ground, in the information environment. Supply chains are far more difficult in the [Indo-Pacific] theater,” Flosi said. “So we need to put the smallest number of Airmen into harm’s way and achieve the maximum capacity out of each one of them.” The effort dovetails with the mission-ready Airmen concept, where Airmen step outside their usual specialty to refuel a bomber, defend the airfield, or other tasks to accomplish the mission. It means each Airman will be qualified to do more, but it is not “do more with less” Flosi said. “We’re not trying to, like, squeeze 10 people’s worth of work into five people,” he said. “We want to have the capability for an Airman to do as much as they have capacity for.” The memo writers made a similar argument. “As aircraft maintainers, we balance a significant and ever-growing workload, based on the reliability and utilization of our fleet,” they wrote. “In a [Great Power Competition]-combat environment, being well-positioned to fulfill this workload is critical and this design aims to more efficiently distribute our workload across our force.” It took 18 months to develop the plan, which was “carefully vetted” across the aircraft maintenance community and with Air Force leadership, the memo said. While aspects of the plan may change, the goal is to have the first cohort of generalist track Airmen enter the service in 2027. Current Airmen will not see changes in their day-to-day work during and immediately after the switch, though they would see administrative and organizational changes such as to their AFSC title and unit manpower document, the memo said. Billions For Next Generation Fighter Jet Engines Greenlit By Air Force The USAF just accelerated funding for advanced engine work primarily for its sixth-generation tactical jet, the future of which is now uncertain. Joseph Trevithick Posted on Jan 28, 2025 Note: See photos in the original article. The U.S. Air Force has dramatically plussed-up contracts with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, both of which now have a ceiling of $3.5 billion, to continue work on prototype next-generation jet engines. To date, the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program has been focused primarily on developing new engines to power a new sixth-generation crewed stealth ‘fighter’ in the works as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. The NGAD combat jet’s future is now an open question, but NGAP might also feed into other advanced aviation programs. The Pentagon announced the modifications to the existing NGAP deals in its daily contracting notice today. Both are described as funding additional “technology maturation and risk reduction services” in support of work on prototype engines. The specific entry for the modification to the NGAP contract with Pratt & Whitney (a subsidiary of Raytheon) provides the following additional context: “The work includes design, analysis, rig testing, prototype engine build and testing, and weapon system integration. The contract modification is for the execution of the prototype phase of the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program and is focused on delivering a state-of-the-art propulsion system with a flexible architecture that can be tailored for future combat aircraft operating across various mission threads; and digitally transforming the propulsion industrial base.” An engine test rig at the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in 2017 used to support work on Pratt & Whitney’s XA101 engine. The company is leveraging work on the XA101 for its NGAP design. USAF The U.S. Air Force first awarded the NGAP contracts to General Electric and Pratt & Whitney in 2022. At that time, additional NGAP contracts also went to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the three prime contractors vying at that point to develop the NGAD combat jet, to help ensure the next-generation engines would be compatible with their respective designs. Each of those deals had an initial ceiling of close to $1 billion. Details about the NGAP designs from General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, known as the XA102 and XA103, respectively, remain limited. The XA102 passed a major design review in 2023 and the XA103 did the same last year. They both leverage work on earlier engines that the two companies developed as potential options for re-engining F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as part of the Air Force’s Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). In 2023, the Air Force announced its intention to cancel AETP in favor of upgrading the existing Pratt & Whitney F135 engine currently used on all variants of the F-35. Congress subsequently authorized additional funding for AETP. An old Air Force briefing slide, dating back to at least 2018, regarding the AETP effort. USAF An old Air Force briefing slide, dating back to at least 2018, that shows potential benefits that could be released through the AETP program and follow-on efforts for various aircraft types, including a future advanced combat jet. USAF Like the XA100 and XA101, the XA102 and XA103 are known to be so-called adaptive cycle designs. What this means in broad strokes is that their bypass ratios can be adjusted on demand while in flight between modes that are more fuel-efficient or provide more power, depending on what the situation requires. For instance, a tactical jet with such an engine could fly in an ‘efficiency’ mode to an operating area, helping to conserve fuel for when it gets on station, which might include time in a higher-power combat-focused mode. The capabilities adaptive cycle engines offer could be particularly important in a future large-scale conflict, especially one against China across the board expanses of the Pacific, where aerial refueling assets are expected to be increasingly at risk and available bases could be few and far between. General Electric has previously said that its earlier XA100 design is some 25 percent more efficient than the F135 and can also offer between 10 and 20 percent more thrust than the Pratt & Whitney engine in certain flight profiles. You can read more about the XA100 and adaptive cycle technologies here. Despite the new funding, what any future NGAP engine might power is less clear than it was back in 2022. The Air Force launched a deep review of its NGAD combat jet plans last year and it remains unclear how the service under the new Trump administration will proceed. A number of alternatives to the original concept, envisioned as a relatively large and expensive successor to the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter but with an overall different mission set, have been proposed, including a truncated lower-cost design viewed more as a follow-on to the F-35 with a focus on acting as an aerial drone controller. NGAP engines, or derivatives thereof, could still power the NGAD combat jet regardless of its final form. Members of a next-generation family of jet engines, or technologies therefrom, could find their way into other advanced Air Force crewed and uncrewed aircraft, as well. The service is actively working to acquire new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones and is also eyeing stealthy aerial refueling tankers, though the future of those efforts has also been called into question primarily due to concerns about affordability. The Air Force’s budget outlook is complicated by a number of very high-priority, but also very expensive programs, including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. The ballooning cost of Sentinel was a key factor in the decision to initiate the NGAD combat jet review. Other branches of the U.S. military could be interested in the NGAP engines or related designs. While the future of the NGAD combat jet is murky, the U.S. Navy has insisted that it will push ahead with its own plans for a sixth-generation carrier-capable stealth ‘fighter’ commonly referred to now as F/A-XX. At the same time, in an interview with Aviation Week last year, the Navy did say it was looking to chart a course for F/A-XX independent of Air Force efforts, including NGAP. At the same time, any engines that might come out of NGAP still look to be a ways off. The contract modifications announced today for the ongoing prototyping effort now cover work through 2032. Whatever ultimately comes of NGAP, the expanded deals with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney show the Air Force is still very committed now to seeing the development of the XA102 and XA103 through to at least the prototype stage. An ‘aerial version of Moore’s Law’ has dramatically improved safety, but an aviation expert notes this disturbing trend BYJason Ma February 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM CST • By one metric, air-travel safety improves by a factor of two nearly every decade, according to a 2024 study. But this week’s crash of a passenger plane and an Army helicopter highlighted a troubling recent trend, according to one aviation expert. • Recent airplane crashes have again raised fears about air travel, though data show it remains one of the safest forms of transportation. On Friday night, an air ambulance crashed in Philadelphia, killing at least seven. That came just two days after an American Eagle passenger plane collided in midair with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing more than 60 people But by one metric, air-travel safety has drastically improved since the 1960s and even in recent decades. An August 2024 study by Arnold Barnett, an MIT Sloan School of Management professor, and Jan Reig Torra, a former graduate student at MIT Sloan, focused on fatalities per passenger boardings, rather than miles traveled or flight hours. They found that from 2018 to 2022, the risk of a fatality from commercial air travel was 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally. That’s compared to 1 per 7.9 million from 2008 to 2017 and 1 per every 350,000 from 1968 to 1977. In fact, even as the risks tumbled over the decades, the annual rate of improvement didn’t slow down, despite harder year-over-year comparisons. “Instead, in an aerial version of Moore’s Law, worldwide death risk per boarding dropped by about a factor of two every decade,” the authors wrote. The original Moore’s Law refers to the historical pace of technological innovation that doubles the computing power of chips about every 18 months. But Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle University, pointed to a disturbing recent trend. “If you go back and look through the past two to three years in the US, we have had several close calls in the airport environment and fortunately disaster was averted in in all of those,” he told Singapore’s CNA broadcast network on Friday. “But last night, those dominoes lined up. Those holes in the Swiss cheese, as we sometimes talk about it, lined up and we unfortunately had disaster,” he added. Sometimes sweeping changes can come after a disaster, Brickhouse said. And because “the world is watching” the DC accident, he thinks improvements will come to prevent a similar crash from happening again. The FAA formed an independent safety review team in 2023 to review a series of close calls, and its report highlighted funding issues, old technology, and staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. But investments in new equipment and increases in trained personnel can take years to reach fruition. Meanwhile, Americans are continuing to travel by air at high rates. “When I first got the news, I’ll tell you, I was obviously saddened, but I wasn’t shocked,” Brickhouse told CNN on Friday. “And in safety, we identify trends… something that happens over and over again. And in the safety world, if you keep having near-misses, eventually you’re going to have a midair (collision),” Boom Goes Supersonic, Makes Civil Aviation History Company’s XB-1 ‘Baby Boom’ demonstrator breaks the sound barrier at Mojave Air & Space Port in California, where the first supersonic flight occurred in 1947. Note: See photo and video in the original article. January 28, 2025 8:42 pm ET By Jack Daleo Tuesday morning at Mojave Air & Space Port in California, almost 80 years after U.S. Air Force ace Chuck Yeager first eclipsed the sound barrier in a Bell X-1, an independently built jet reached supersonic speeds for the first time.' Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 “Baby Boom,” a demonstrator designed as a prelude to Overture—the company’s concept for a supersonic airliner capable of flying anywhere in the world in four hours, for just $100—hit Mach 1.1, or about 750 mph, during its 12th test flight. The feat marks a historic moment for civil aviation, which until now has leaned on outside help to develop supersonic aircraft. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom, in a postflight update. “Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner.” Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, Boom’s chief test pilot, flew the Baby Boom to an altitude of about 35,290 feet before breaking the sound barrier. The flight also served to validate some of the technologies that will appear on Overture, which Boom says will be the first supersonic commercial airliner since its ancestor, Concorde, was retired more than two decades ago. It would be the first American-made civil supersonic jet. “There we are! XB-1 is supersonic, faster than the speed of sound,” said Mike Bannister, former chief Concorde pilot for British Airways, during the flight, which was streamed live using a chase aircraft and SpaceX Starlink satellites. Boom in November told FLYING that the XB-1 will be retired after completing a handful of supersonic test flights, and Scholl on Tuesday predicted its swan song will come in February. The campaign kicked off in March, with each flight inching closer to the speed of sound. “Our discipline and methodical approach to this flight test program created the safety culture that made a safe and successful first supersonic flight possible,” said Brandenburg. The Baby Boom is only about one-third the size of Overture, which is being developed to carry 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7—about twice the speed of commercial airliners. But the two share some key similarities: carbon fiber composites, special supersonic intakes, optimized aerodynamics, and augmented reality vision systems to help pilots “see” the landing area. As the XB-1 test campaign progressed, Boom made key changes to Overture’s design, such as doubling its seating capacity. “Some ask: ‘what’s the point of the prototype, if the production aircraft design is different?’” Scholl said Sunday in a post on X. “This perspective overlooks learning. If the production design hadn’t changed, it would imply we’d learned nothing from XB-1!” Overture won’t quite reach Concorde’s speeds but is expected to have a range of 4,250 nm and cruise at about 60,000 feet—high enough to see the curvature of the Earth. Its Symphony engines are designed to run on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The aircraft’s flight deck is designed around Honeywell’s Anthem avionics suite, and its cockpit will be the first to include sticks that physically respond to aircraft movements and copilot or autopilot inputs. Boom’s goal is to fly Overture by 2026 and certify it with the FAA as a transport category airplane with special requirements by 2029. That would enable deliveries to customers—such as United Airlines and American Airlines—which have placed a combined 130 orders and preorders, Boom said Tuesday. The firm still has a long way to go before it reintroduces supersonic commercial flight to the world. But Tuesday marked its biggest achievement yet. “Beginning in 1905, the National Aeronautic Association [NAA] recognized aviation’s most historic events, including breaking the sound barrier in 1947 and the moon landing in 1969,” said Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the NAA. “XB-1 has continued to prove that [Boom’s] dream is in line with the achievements that have come before.” Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on FlyingMag.com. Basler delivers two BT-67 conversions of WWII C-47 planes to undisclosed customer By Dario Leone Jan 30 2025 Note: See photos in the original article. In this article: • Basler delivers two BT-67 conversions • A rare example of successful and complete remanufactured aircraft • The most highly evolved and proven transport system in its class Basler delivers two BT-67 conversions Basler Turbo Conversions has recently delivered two BT-67 conversions from its base in Oshkosh, WI, to an undisclosed customer, the company announced in a post appeared on its Facebook page. As the photos in this post show, from Oshkosh the planes flew in formation to Tullahoma, TN. The aircraft, N1350A (MSN 68) and N941AT (MSN 69), have been finished in grey and do not wear any markings. According to Scramble Magazine, BT-67 N1350A started its life as a USAAF TC-47B-30-DK with serial 44-76700 76700 (MSN 16285/33032) which was delivered in April 1945, while N941AT was delivered to the USAAF as 42-93040 (MSN 12907) on Mar. 31, 1944 and Iit towed a glider transporting men and materials for the 101st Airborne Division to a landing zone at Hiesville, Normandy, France on Mission ‘Keokuk’ on Jun. 6, 1944 and Mission ‘Galveston’ one day later. Only speculations can be made about their customer: some sources suggest that N1350A and N941AT are going to be used by CIA for covert operations. A rare example of successful and complete remanufactured aircraft As close as the piston DC-3 came to perfection, Warren Basler knew that there was a need for a better and more efficient version of this highly reliable aircraft. With this vision, Basler Turbo Conversions was created. Production began in the new 75,000 square foot facility in January, 1990 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since that time, BT-67 aircraft have been manufactured and sold to customers from every corner of the world. “The DC-3 was a beautiful, stable, and virtually indestructible airframe going to waste. We realized that by turbinizing and modernizing the airplane it would go on for many years. “. . . for years the aviation industry had been searching for a replacement for this rugged and reliable aircraft . . . at Basler Turbo Conversions we’re building it,” Mr. Basler explains. In 1996, control of the company was assumed by Jack Goodale, an aviation minded entrepreneur from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Goodale brought his considerable skills and background as a builder of businesses to the company and has nurtured and guided the business to its current standing as a complete and focused aircraft manufacturing company. Today, Basler Turbo Conversions and the BT-67 configuration of the DC-3 / C-47 stands as a rare example of successful and complete remanufactured aircraft. The BT-67 and company staff proudly serve a world wide base of customers. The most highly evolved and proven transport system in its class After thousands of hours of design, each BT-67 is engineered to assure that every component, assembly, or system is either new or the equivalent of new. All workmanship and materials meet the highest standards of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The philosophy inherent in our manufacturing process is to exceed industry standards by following an uncompromising approach to excellence that produces a product of the highest quality. The Basler BT-67 combines the most reliable airframe in history with the industry’s most reliable engines. It has been meticulously re-designed to serve our customers for generations to come. All changes are certified through extensive testing to FAR Part 25, the same tough criteria applied to the latest generation of commercial jet liners. The resulting product, the BT-67, defies standard comparison. It is unquestionably the most highly evolved and proven transport system in its class, both in terms of productivity and cost effectiveness. • It is an affordable aircraft with: • Low acquisition costs • Low operation costs • Heavy payload capability • Excellent short field capability Stage III quiet • Certified for known ice • Impressive avionics package • Conversion options Former Marine finds niche in TSTC’s Aircraft Airframe Technology program Former Marine finds niche in TSTC’s Aircraft Airframe Technology program (HARLINGEN, Texas) – The sound of drones soaring overhead was something that Texas State Technical College student Tania Valdez enjoyed when she served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years as an avionics technician. “My job was to check for any problems on a military aircraft drone that wasn’t working correctly and fix it,” Valdez said. But becoming a mother necessitated a change. “I transitioned to civilian life to focus on my family,” she said. When Valdez’s children started school, it gave her time to pursue a new challenge. “I wanted to find a connection to my military job because I enjoyed it,” she said. “The Marines I used to work with suggested that I test for the aircraft powerplant Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licenses. I did an online search for avionics technician jobs with military experience. I learned that TSTC offered an aviation maintenance program.” Now Valdez is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology at TSTC. “The assignments were easy for me during the first semester because it’s what I did in the military,” the Mercedes resident said. “We did things such as check the weight and balance of an aircraft and reviewed basic electricity.” Carlos Rodriguez, one of Valdez’s instructors, said the problem-solving skills that Tania is developing during labs, such as learning about aircraft electrical systems, have enhanced her ability to troubleshoot problems with aircraft. “That is a highly sought-after skill in the aviation workforce,” he said. Valdez said she has a specific goal that she is determined to achieve at TSTC. “I would like to pass my aircraft powerplant FAA licenses and have a job before I graduate,” she said. According to onetonline.org, aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Texas earn an average of $77,640 a year. The website projected that there would be a 16% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2020 to 2030. TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates of completion in both Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at its Abilene, Harlingen and Waco campuses. To learn more about TSTC, go to tstc.edu. RYANAIR STARTS BUILDING NEW €40 MILLION AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT DUBLIN AIRPORT CREATING 200 NEW ENGINEERS AND MECHANIC JOBS Ryanair, Ireland’s No. 1 airline, today (Wed, 29 Jan) began construction of its new €40 million aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport. This state-of-the-art 4 bay hangar will create over 200 new highly paid and high skilled jobs for engineers and mechanics. Ryanair’s new 120,000sq foot hangar will facilitate the heavy and line maintenance of Ryanair’s growing fleet as the airline continues to take delivery of more efficient new technology 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft, which carry 4% more passengers while cutting CO2 emissions by 16% and noise by 40%. In addition to a more environmentally efficient fleet, Ryanair’s new hangar at Dublin will also be one of the most environmentally efficient hangars in the EU with gas absorption heat pumps reducing energy use by up to 35%. For more information on Ryanair’s experienced and trainee engineer jobs in Dublin, please visit Ryanair’s careers page. Speaking on-site at Dublin this morning, Ryanair COO, Neal McMahon, said: “As Ireland’s No.1 airline, we are pleased to turn the sod today on our new aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport, which will see Ryanair invest a further €40 million in Dublin, significantly expand of our current Dublin maintenance facility, and create over 200 highly paid jobs for engineers and mechanics. Ryanair’s new state-of-the-art 120,000sq foot facility will be one of the most environmentally friendly hangars in Europe and will facilitate the maintenance of our growing fleet as we continue to take delivery of new technology 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft (which cut CO2 by 16% and noise by 40%). This is a fantastic opportunity for both experienced and trainee engineers and mechanics to join Ryanair and work with the biggest operator of Boeing 737s in Europe. For more information on these exciting new jobs, visit careers.ryanair.com.” Boeing Sets New Delivery Record The aircraft builder has boosted its deliveries in the first month of 2025. February 1, 2025 8:00 am ET By Caleb Revill After a dismal year, Boeing’s productivity has bounced back its deliveries to new heights with its best January yet. According to AirInsight data, Boeing delivered 44 jets as of Jan. 31, nearly double its 25 deliveries from January 2024. The solid start puts Boeing at one-tenth of its delivery goal for 2025. The company produced one 777-200F, four 787s, one BBJ, 30 MAX 8s, three MAX 8-200s and three MAX 9s in January. Boeing beat Airbus in total deliveries for the month by 19 jets. Airbus had out-delivered Boeing the year before by five aircraft. COMAC and Embraer each delivered three aircraft in January 2025 – half of what they each delivered a year prior. In January 2024, Boeing’s 737 production was capped at 38 aircraft per month by the Federal Aviation Administration following a door plug incident earlier that month. That cap is still in place today. According to a recent Reuters report, newly appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has said he would keep the production cap in place until he was satisfied with Boeing’s safety standards. Airlines Hiring Mechanics in 2025 Despite the slowdown in some parts of airline hiring, there is steady demand for aircraft maintenance technicians. Note: See photos in the original article. [ Airline Careers ]January 17, 2025 7:00 am ET By Andrew Chen Aircraft mechanics work around the clock to keep airline operations safe. Being an aircraft mechanic – also known as an aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) or airframe and powerplant technician (A&P) – can therefore be an interesting and rewarding job for those interested in aviation. Although aircraft mechanics can work for many different types of employers, many choose to work for an airline. Being employed by a commercial airline comes with many advantages, including competitive salaries and travel benefits. While airline hiring has slowed down for some roles – as is the case with pilots – many carriers are actively hiring aircraft mechanics. Which Major U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Mechanics? Most major airlines in the United States are hiring aircraft mechanics for their maintenance operations. • Alaska Airlines currently has a job posting for an avionics technician at its Seattle base. • American Airlines is actively hiring for multiple roles in their Tech Ops and Maintenance team. The legacy carrier has over a dozen postings for technician and maintenance supervisor jobs throughout its network. • Delta Air Lines is currently hiring aircraft maintenance technicians for its Endeavor Air subsidiary. Delta also has openings for aircraft maintenance apprenticeships for students enrolled at partner schools. • JetBlue Airways currently has numerous positions open in its Technical Operations division. The airline is hiring mechanics in multiple locations and also has job postings for supervisory positions. • United Airlines is hiring maintenance technicians and supervisors throughout its network. There are available jobs in locations ranging from Los Angeles to Guam to Beijing. Which U.S. Low-Cost Carriers Are Hiring Mechanics? • Allegiant Air has over a dozen job postings for aircraft maintenance roles across the country, some of which are leadership positions. The airline also has an ongoing talent pool that prospective employees can join. • Avelo Airlines is hiring aircraft maintenance technicians at multiple bases. The airline has six operating bases split across the East and West Coasts. • Breeze Airways is also seeking aircraft maintenance technicians and maintenance supervisors at numerous bases. Breeze is even offering hiring bonuses and stipends at certain locations. • Frontier Airlines has many job postings for aircraft mechanics across the country. The airline’s Technical Operations division maintains its all-Airbus fleet. • Sun Country Airlines is hiring aircraft maintenance technicians at its base in Minneapolis. The airline also has seasonal A&P positions available at some outstations. Which U.S. Regional Airlines Are Hiring Mechanics? Like their mainline counterparts, many regional carriers are seeking aircraft mechanics. • Boutique Air is currently seeking aircraft mechanics in Dallas. The airline flies Pilatus PC-12s on a handful of Essential Air Service (EAS) routes around the country. • Cape Air is hiring airframe and powerplant mechanics in multiple locations. The airline has regional operations in four locations: the Northwest, the Midwest, the Caribbean, and Montana. • CommuteAir is hiring aircraft maintenance technicians in Lincoln, Nebraska and at Washington-Dulles. The company also has mechanic apprentice positions available. • Endeavor Air has open positions for aircraft mechanics in multiple locations ranging from Atlanta to Cincinnati to New York. • Envoy Air is hiring airframe and powerplant mechanics across the country. The airline has ten maintenance bases from coast to coast. • GoJet Airlines is hiring aircraft maintenance technicians for multiple bases. The airline is also offering sign on bonuses in St. Louis and Chicago. • Mesa Airlines is recruiting for multiple maintenance positions. These include line technicians and maintenance managers. • Piedmont Airlines is seeking airframe and powerplant mechanics in multiple locations. The carrier also has a tuition reimbursement program for aspiring maintenance technicians. • PSA Airlines is hiring aircraft mechanics in multiple locations. The company has nine bases across the United States. • Republic Airways is actively hiring aircraft maintenance technicians. The carrier also has apprenticeships for students as well as for military mechanics. • Silver Airways currently has job postings for aircraft maintenance technicians in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. • SkyWest Airlines is seeking line maintenance technicians across its network. The airline is the country’s largest regional carrier with bases across the country. It is also offering hiring bonuses at certain locations. Which U.S. Cargo and Charter Airlines Are Hiring Mechanics? • ABX Air is hiring aircraft mechanics in multiple locations throughout its network. • Ameriflight has multiple job postings for airframe and powerplant mechanics. The company also partners with schools to offer student opportunities for aspiring A&Ps. • Atlas Air is seeking airframe and powerplant mechanics and is also hiring for other maintenance roles. It also has a job posting for traveling mechanics to repair aircraft in remote locations. • FedEx Express is actively hiring aircraft mechanics. The airline is the world’s largest cargo carrier. • Kalitta Air is hiring mechanics and maintenance supervisors in multiple locations. The airline currently flies Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 777F aircraft to destinations across the globe. • UPS Airlines is also hiring aircraft mechanics throughout its global network. The Louisville-based carrier is one of the world’s largest cargo airlines and flies a diverse fleet of aircraft. • U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Mechanics Many airlines in the United States are actively hiring mechanics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates five percent growth for aircraft and avionics mechanics through 2033. Meanwhile, aviation training company CAE projects a need for 138,000 aircraft mechanics globally by 2033. There are therefore many opportunities for aspiring aircraft mechanics. Curt Lewis