GAO Study Says Mechanic Curriculum Obsolete

In a study on the projected number of aircraft mechanics and technicians needed in the future, the General Accounting Office said the FAA’s mechanic training curriculum has not changed significantly in more than 50 years. The GAO said, “Industry officials believe that the curriculum is obsolete, geared toward smaller, less complex aircraft, and does not provide enough instruction on the materials and technology used on modern aircraft.” Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be 184,000 aircraft mechanics employed in the U.S. in 2010 (an increase of 17 percent from the number employed in 2000), after which a shortage is predicted.