MEDIA:US Aviation health bad ? REALLY ?

JDA Aviation Technology Solutions

 

Let’s Compare 2 Areas of Concerns

Every day some aviation expert DECLARES, in some of media, that the AMERICAN SKIES ARE FALLING. The US’ vision today is more insular than our predecessor the British Isles. Two recent articles (below) pointed me to a broader perspective. Many of the impending dooms, aircraft certification and ATC staffing shortages, are MORE OF A GLOBAL PHENOMENON. Yes, we have issues, but so do many of the aeronautical countries.

▬►Perhaps, the aviation industry has caught some as-of-yet-unidentified influenza?

▬►Maybe, following Sec. Duffy’s speech at Montreal, ICAO should consider amping its efforts to finding a vaccine for this pandemic?

It is clear that air traffic controller shortages are a global issue, not just a U.S. problem. According to a 2025 working paper presented at the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) annual conference, countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are also grappling with staffing shortfalls. The ATC organization’s paper provides the following specific shortfalls:

• Germany, France, and the UK have reported controller shortages due to retirements and training bottlenecks.
• Eurocontrol has warned of delays and capacity constraints in busy airspace corridors, especially during summer travel peaks.
• The Emirates Aviation Association highlighted regional challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified controllers, especially as air traffic rebounds post-COVID.
• India and Southeast Asia face shortages driven by rapid growth in domestic aviation and limited training infrastructure.
• Japan and South Korea are investing in automation to offset aging workforces.
• Canada & Australia report moderate shortages, with efforts underway to expand training pipelines and improve retention.

Both ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) have acknowledged the global shortage of qualified air traffic controllers . An IFATCA 2025 Conference paper recommended these efforts to reduce/eliminate these shortages-

• • Enhanced recruitment and training pipelines
  • Competency-based and inclusive training programs
  • Mental health and fatigue management
  • Technology integration to reduce workload
• ICAO emphasized that the shortage threatens the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of international air transport.

• IATA advocated for investment in ATC modernization and automation, especially in congested regions like Europe and Southeast Asia. It also supported ICAO’s call for harmonized global standards and data-sharing to address staffing gaps

 

 

Delay in certification has been a focus of several exposes. An article (below) alerts that both Airbus[1] and Boeing are incurring increased time to process their Type Certificate applications. Neither OEM is quoted as complaining; rather, the sources about these delays are the airlines, whose capacities for scheduling are more limited.

It appears that the other major CAAs have not contracted this flu:

• The National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC)–Most issues stem from the mutual validation process with EASA, where the priority is on Embraer’s new types (notably eVTOL programs), with sporadic bottlenecks for imported (foreign-manufactured) products, including the need for cross-reference validation under bilateral frameworks. Delays in Brazil are less frequently systemic or chronic, but could occur on a one-off basis where bilateral validation is warranted and where global supply chain disruptions indirectly slow down the process for imported Airbus aircraft.
• The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)– JCAB’s approach is conservative, with thorough checklists and documentation requirements; while this can marginally lengthen time-to-certification compared to other jurisdictions, delays have not emerged as a critical problem for the certification of established Airbus types in Japan during the period examined.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)– Delays in India arise chiefly from evolving rulemaking, mandatory coordination with foreign design/production organizations, and the necessity of demonstrating compliance with updated national requirements. While not as acute or high-profile as the EASA experience, there can be minor cyclical slowdowns for new aircraft models where additional information, agreement, or substantiation is mandated.
• Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)– Delays, where reported, have been minor, isolated, and mainly associated with either emerging technologies (e.g., eVTOLs, alternative propulsion) or need for harmonized updates in technical standards.

While there is no pandemic here, the confluence of frequent regulatory updates, the introduction of stringent requirements for new technologies, heightened technical scrutiny, and severe staffing shortages have led to material delays in the launch and delivery of new aircraft.

Aviation’s technological escalation, refinement of the certification standards, increased passenger traffic and stresses incurred in all governments all have tested the system. That said, aviation safety remains a constant principle everywhere.

 

 

Delays in Boeing and Airbus Aircraft Certification and Deliveries Hinder Airline Growth Plans

Gelonghui, October 14th | Boeing (BA.US) and Airbus are EXPERIENCING “UNPRECEDENTED” DELAYS IN AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION AND DELIVERY. Airlines have stated that these issues are hindering the progress of their growth and decarbonization plans. Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM Group, said that the delays are causing severe backlogs for major European airlines.

The progress of all suppliers is lagging. “None of us are counting on significant improvements in the short term.” Since the pandemic severely disrupted supply chains, the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers have struggled to deliver products on schedule. Germany’s Lufthansa and International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, are still awaiting the delivery of Boeing’s 777X model, which has been delayed from entering the market for six years. The U.S. government shutdown has further exacerbated the delays, halting aircraft inspections.

Shortage of Personnel in Air Traffic Control Centres Across India a Major Safety Concern: Report

For representation. An Air India flight. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A critical shortage of personnel in AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) centres ACROSS INDIA is posing RISKS TO FLIGHT SAFETY, raising serious concerns for the aviation sector, which at present is rapidly growing.

The challenge is expected to intensify with the recent opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport and the imminent launch of Jewar International Airport in Noida, reported New Indian Express.

“The sanctioned strength of ATC officers is 5,337, but there are currently 1,613 vacancies. With new airports coming up and more flights being introduced daily, we need at least 8,000 officers. This severe shortfall is a direct threat to passenger safety and to the wellbeing of existing officers,” reported the newspaper, quoting a source in the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

While ATC operations run 24/7, it was only in 2019 that Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), implemented for ATC personnel.

“Before that, ATCOs were putting in excessively long hours in a role where even a moment’s lapse in attention can have disastrous consequences,” the source added.

The lack of adequate training infrastructure also aggravates the problem, with at present only three ATC training centres operating in the entire country.

The two important divisions of the ATC services are Air Navigation Services and Communication Navigation Services. It is important that both these wings act in close coordination to manage aircraft movements, communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.

“Despite being a government job, the demanding shift work and comparatively lower pay make it less attractive to job seekers. An ATCO may manage 15 to 20 aircraft at once, whereas a pilot is responsible for only one. Yet, a new ATCO earns about Rs 60,000 per month, while a pilot starting their career makes around Rs 2.5 lakh,” another source told the newspaper.

While the AAI has so far declined to issue an official comment, stakeholders in India’s aviation industry warn that in wake of the continuous growth in the sector, unless there is immediate and sustained intervention, the ATC personnel shortage could become a major challenge, and a serious safety hazard.

[1] A321XLR: Originally targeted for 2023 EIS (entry into service), the program’s certification and first delivery slipped to late 2024 and then 2025 due to EASA-mandated redesigns of the rear center tank to meet new safety requirements..A350F: Airbus confirmed in early 2025 that first deliveries of the A350F, previously set for 2026, have now slipped to at least the second half of 2027 due to supply chain issues, certification bottlenecks, and intensified scrutiny of new design features by EASA.A320neo and A321neo: EASA and Airbus have maintained routine certification updates (see Airworthiness Directives 2025-0031 and 2025-0032), but increased frequency of regulatory overhauls and new requirements has contributed to lengthening review and compliance cycles.

Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) for major Airbus models (A318–A321, A330, and A350) all show major issue/revision activity in 2025, reflecting a backlog or ongoing requirement for design update validation and reissuance of certificates