NBAA and ASTM International announced the formation of a high-level group to develop standards for training workers in the aerospace industry. ASTM Committee F46 on Aerospace Personnel will be led by manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and other key stakeholders.

The committee will develop internationally accepted standards that define the core competencies for aerospace personnel, providing a baseline for education, testing and certification requirements. As a result, employers will benefit from a broader, more uniform acceptance of expected knowledge and skills of workers. Employers will also be able to attract and retain highly skilled workers in the face of projected shortages in the coming years. Just as important, workers will be able to discover clearer opportunities for career advancement in many areas, including avionics, aircraft engines, hazardous materials, aircraft assembly, aircraft health monitoring and more.

"F46 will take the efforts to train and certify aerospace personnel to a new level, advancing NCATT and industry efforts while supporting the broader goals of agencies like the FAA. I am confident that the committee will lay a strong foundation of standards to help workers understand what skills they need in many technical areas, while also setting criteria for the certification process. Their efforts will play a key role in training and retaining highly skilled workers in this industry, while also providing new career pathways," said Lee Brewster, National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies program representative for ASTM.