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Task Force Details Aerospace Supply-chain Weaknesses
By: Amy Wilder
Caption: Report identifies vulnerabilities in labor, materials, and infrastructure
Word Count: 390
The Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force has released a comprehensive report to U.S. Congress, outlining key vulnerabilities in the nation's aerospace sector and offering recommendations to strengthen its long-term resilience. Including contributions from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the task force highlighted several critical areas requiring immediate attention to mitigate risks and ensure the sector’s continued stability.
"The aerospace supply chain… involves tens of thousands of suppliers from all over the globe which provide parts, platforms, and systems that require regulatory approval for use and installation, all of which may not be easily replaced or substituted," GAMA v-p of government affairs Paul Feldman said in a statement issued on Tuesday. "It is essential that both government and industry work together to ensure its stability, particularly in addressing these vulnerabilities."
Several top concerns are identified in the report, including labor shortages, critical material dependencies, and the health of supporting infrastructure for the National Airspace System (NAS).
This document points to supply-chain challenges for raw materials critical for manufacturing aircraft components and systems, many of which are sourced from foreign markets. Geopolitical uncertainties and increasingly strict environmental regulations make it difficult to secure these materials. Also at issue is the deteriorating infrastructure supporting the NAS, specifically air traffic control systems and airport facilities. Many of these systems are outdated and urgently need modernization. 
It is a challenge for the aviation industry to attract and retain skilled workers due to required specialized technical training and competition from other industries. An aging workforce and broader labor market trends compound this issue.
The task force advocates for targeted policy changes to improve the regulatory environment, investment in workforce training, and infrastructure upgrades. Stressing collaboration between government agencies and industry stakeholders to address these challenges, the report also calls for efforts to secure the supply of critical materials.
GAMA and other industry leaders have expressed willingness to engage further with lawmakers and federal agencies to strengthen the aerospace supply chain. “While our industries have been able to navigate supply chain constraints to the best of their ability, it is critical that we have the government work with us to help create economic certainty, improve the regulatory process, and support competition for the supply chain,” Feldman said.