Australia – Lea Vesic, Director of RMIT’s Aviation Academy and an aviation advisor in the office of then-transport minister Michael McCormack, has emphasized the long-term challenges facing the aviation industry as it works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a visible revival, Vesic highlights a “crisis of confidence” stemming from skill shortages and missed opportunities in federal aviation policy.

• Vesic noted the significant skills deficit caused by the pandemic, which led to an exodus of expertise across various specializations in aviation.
• Training and education in aviation require years of development, making the current talent gap a long-term challenge for the industry.
• RMIT is ramping up its efforts to address these gaps but finds the Australian government’s aviation white paper inadequate in fostering a cohesive industry-wide approach.
• Vesic criticized the white paper for over-relying on airlines to solve training and skills challenges, ignoring the broader ecosystem’s needs.
• She called for bold, long-term leadership to define Australia’s aviation future toward 2050 and to guide the industry’s investment and growth.

Source: Lea Vesic (RMIT Aviation Academy)