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Written question asked by Neil Coyle (Labour) on Thursday, 2 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Friday, 10 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Aviation: Engineers

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of long training lead times for licensed aircraft engineers on future aviation capacity and connectivity.

Answer

To become a certified aircraft engineer in the UK, individuals must obtain a Civil Aviation Authority Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence, which typically takes between three and five years to achieve. This reflects the rigorous theoretical knowledge, practical training, and workplace experience required to maintain aviation safety standards. The existing UK regulation already allows for engineers training to be fast tracked, where they undergo training through a ‘basic course’ proved by a UK approved Part 147 organisation. This basic training allows the reduction for Category B licences from 5 years’ experience to 3 years and for Category A licences from 3 years to 1 year.

Aviation operates in the private sector, and it is for employers in the sector to ensure that they have the workforce skills they need to continue operating and expanding.

The Department continues to monitor the workforce outlook for the sector overall through ongoing engagement with the industry.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
15346
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Aviation Training Engineers
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk